Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Sassolite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Anna Mine, Alsdorf, Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

Show Sassolite Photos (16)



Formula:
H
 
3
BO
 
3
System:TriclinicColour:White to grey, ...
Lustre:PearlyHardness:1
Name:Named after its discovery locality, Sasso, Tuscany, Italy.
This page provides mineralogical data about Sassolite.

Classification of Sassolite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/F.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.AA.05

6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
A : BO3, without additional anions; 1(D).
Dana 8th edition ID:24.3.1.1

24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
3 : AmBn[XO3]p
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.1.1

9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3540.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Sassolite

Type Locality:Sasso Pisano, Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
Year of Discovery:1800

Physical Properties of Sassolite

Lustre:Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White to grey, occasionally colourless, yellow or brown.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):1
Cleavage:Perfect
{001} micaceous
Density (measured):1.46 - 1.5 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.48 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sassolite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 7.02Å, b = 7.06Å, c = 6.59Å
α = 103.65°, β = 101.11°, γ = 59.98°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.994 : 1 : 0.933
Unit Cell Volume:V 273.72 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Tabular crystals {001}, pseudohexagonal in development; rarely needle-lke [001]. Usually small scales; grouped in stalactitic forms at times. Coatings.
Twinning:Common on twin axis [001].
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Sassolite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.340 nβ = 1.456 nγ = 1.459
2V:Measured: 5° , Calculated: 16°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.119

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Sassolite

Formula:
H
 
3
BO
 
3
Essential elements:B, H, O
All elements listed in formula:B, H, O
Analytical Data:Boric acid.
Relationship of Sassolite to other Species
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
6.AA.15Nordenskiöldine
CaSn
4+
 
[BO
 
3
]
 
2
6.AA.15Tusionite
Mn
2+
 
Sn
4+
 
[BO
 
3
]
 
2
6.AA.35Jimboite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[BO
 
3
]
 
2
6.AA.35Kotoite
Mg
 
3
[BO
 
3
]
 
2
6.AA.40Takedaite
Ca
 
3
[BO
 
3
]
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
9.1.2Metaborite
HBO
 
2
9.1.3Diomignite
Li
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
9.1.4Biringuccite
Na
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
8
(OH) · H
 
2
O
9.1.5Nasinite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.1.6Kernite
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.1.7Ezcurrite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
 · 7H
 
2
O
9.1.8Tincalconite
Na
 
2
(B
 
4
O
 
7
) · 5H
 
2
O
9.1.9Borax
Na
 
2
(B
 
4
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.1.10Ameghinite
Na(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
9.1.11Sborgite
Na[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.1.12Aristarainite
Na
 
2
MgB
 
12
O
 
20
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.1.13Santite
K[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.1.14Larderellite
(NH
 
4
)B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
9.1.15Ammonioborite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.1.16Rhodizite
(K,Cs)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28
Other Names for Sassolite
Synonyms:
Boric AcidNative Boracic AcidNative Sedative SaltSal sedativum
Other Languages:
Catalan:Sassolita
Dutch:Sassoliet
French:Acide boracique
Acide borique
German:Sassolin
Borsäure
Sassolit
Italian:Sassolite
Acido borico
Sale sedativo naturale
Latin:Acidum boracis
Polish:Sassolin
Russian:Сассолин
Spanish:Sassolita
Other Information
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Sassolite
Reference List:

- + 
Hofer, U.F. (1778): Memorie sopra il sale sedativo naturale di Toscana e del borace che da quello si compone. Firenze.

Mascagni, P. (1779): Dei lagoni del Senese e del Volterrano. Commentari. Siena.



Klaproth, M.H. (1802): Untersuchung des Sassolins, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Dritter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 95-101



Karsten, D.L.G. (1808): Mineralogische Tabellen mit Rücksicht auf die neuesten Entdeckungen ausgearbeitet und mit erläuternden Anmerkungen versehen. H. A. Rottmann, Ed., Berlin, 105 pp. [sassolite at page 40].



Haushofer (1884), Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 9: 77.



Zachariasen (1934), Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 88: 150.



Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 662-663.  



Zachariasen, W.H. (1954): The precise structure of orthoboric acid. Acta Crystallographica, 7, 305-310.

Smith, R.L. (1958): Some new occurrences of sassolite in the United States. American Mineralogist, 43, 1204-1205.

Grew, E.S. and Anovitz, L. M. (eds) (2002): Boron: Mineralogy, Petrology, and Geochemistry. Reviews in Mineralogy, 33.


Internet Links for Sassolite
Search Engines:












  • Look for Sassolite on Google
    • 


  • Look for Sassolite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Sassolite on Webmineral
  • Look for Sassolite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Sassolite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Sassolite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Sassolite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Search for Sassolite on Well-Arranged Molecules
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Find Sassolite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Sassolite specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs
    • Localities for Sassolite
    






    


    

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the  symbol to view information about a locality. 
The  symbol next to localities in the list
can be used to jump to that position on the map.

    

    

    
Hide Locality List
     		

    (TL) indicates type locality.  ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.

    Australia
     
    

    • South Australia
    

      • Eyre Peninsula
    

        • Middleback Range
    

          • Iron Knob
    
    		Australian Jour.Min. v.6, no. 1
    Germany
     
    

    • North Rhine-Westphalia
    

      • Aachen
    

        • Alsdorf
    
    		Sindern, S., Warnsloh, J. M., Witzke, T., Havenith, V., Neef, R. & Etoundi, Y. (2005): Mineralogy and geochemistry of vents formed on the burning coal mining waste dump Anna I, Alsdorf, Germany. Eur. J. Mineral. 17, Beih. 1, 130. 
    India
     
    

    • Jammu and Kashmir
    
    		No reference listed
    Italy
     
    

    • Campania
    

      • Naples Province
    

        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    
    		Russo, M., 2006: I minerali di formazione fumarolica della grande eruzione vesuviana del 1906
    




Russo, M., Punzo, I. (2004): I minerali del Somma-Vesuvio, AMI
    

    • Sicily
    

      • Messina Province
    

        • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
    

          • Lipari
    

            • Vulcano Island
    
    		HOLLAND, 1813. GARAVELLI A., LAVIANO R., VURRO F. (1997): Sublimate deposition from hydrothermal fluids at the Fossa Crater - Vulcano, Italy. - European Journal of Mineralogy - 9, 2, 423-432.
    






              • Porto Levante
    
    		HOLLAND, 1813. 
    

    • Tuscany
    

      • Pisa Province
    

        • Castelnuovo Val di Cecina
    
    		American Mineralogist (1957) 42, 56 
    



        • Pomarance
    
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 366; S. Merlino, F. Sartori: Can. Mineral. 27:159-165 (1970)
    Japan
     
    

    • Hokkaido
    

      • Iburi Province
    

        • Usu-zan
    
    		Okamoto collection (curated at the Geological Survey museum, Japan)
    

    • Kyushu Region
    

      • Nansei Archipelago
    

        • Kagoshima Prefecture
    
    		fumarolic
    Mozambique
     
    

    • Zambezia Province
    

      • Alto Ligonha District
    
    		 Thomas, R., Davidson, P. (2010): Hambergite-rich melt inclusions in morganite crystals from  the Muiane pegmatite, Mozambique and some remarks on the paragenesis of hambergite. -  Mineralogy and Petrology, 100, 3-4, 227-23
    Russia
     
    

    • Far-Eastern Region
    

      • Kamchatka Oblast'
    
    		[Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p163-180]
    


[Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p.163-180]
    Tajikistan
     
    

    • Viloyati Mukhtori Gorno-Badakhshan (Viloyati Badakhshoni Kuni)
    

      • Pamir Mts
    

        • Rangkul' Highlands
    
    		 Thomas, R., Davidson, P. (2010): Hambergite-rich melt inclusions in morganite crystals from  the Muiane pegmatite, Mozambique and some remarks on the paragenesis of hambergite. -  Mineralogy and Petrology, 100, 3-4, 227-23
    USA
     
    

    • California
    

      • Inyo Co.
    

        • Death Valley National Park
    

          • Furnace Creek District (Furnace Creek Borate District)
    

            • Black Mts
    

              • Ryan
    

    






              • Twenty Mule Team Canyon
    

                • Monte Blanco
    
    		Am Min 64:3-4 pp 369-375; Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister, and G.D. Eberlein (1979) New data on hungchaoite, the second world occurrence, Death Valley region, California. American Mineralogist: 64: 369-375.
    





            • East Coleman Hills
    
    		Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238, 254.
    





            • Twenty Mule Team Canyon
    
    		Allen, Robert D. & Henry C. Kramer (1957), Ginorite and sassolite from Death Valley, California, American Mineralogist: 42: 56-61; Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister & H. Almond (1959), Gowerite, a new hydrous calcium borate from Death Valley, California: American Mineralogist: 44: 913; Schaller, Waldemar Theodore, et al (1965), American Mineralogist: 65: 629-640; McAllister, James Franklin (1970) Geology of the Furnace Creek borate area, Death Valley, Inyo County, California. California Division of Mines and Geology Map Sheet 14, 9 pp.; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238.
    


Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238.
    




          • Black Mts
    

            • Ryan
    
    		RRUFF Specimen R060496 - http://rruff.info/sassolite/names/asc/R060496
    


      • Kern Co.
    

        • Kramer District
    

          • Boron
    
    		Cal Div of Mines & Geology "Mineral Information Service" V. 22 N. 10 Oct 1969
    





Smith, George Irving, Hy Almond, & D.L. Sawyer, Jr. (1958), Sassolite from the Kramer borate district, California: American Mineralogist: 43: 1070; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 327, 333; Morgan, V. and Erd, R.C. (1969) Minerals of the Kramer borate district, California California Division of Mines and Geology Mineral Information Service: 22: 166; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238.
    





Smith, George Irving, Hy Almond, & D.L. Sawyer, Jr. (1958), Sassolite from the Kramer borate district, California: American Mineralogist: 43: 1070; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 327; Morgan, V. and Erd, R.C. (1969) Minerals of the Kramer borate district, California California Division of Mines and Geology Mineral Information Service: 22: 166; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238.
    






    


      • Lake Co.
    

        • Mayacmas Mts (Mayacamas Mts)
    

          • East Mayacmas District
    

            • Cobb
    
    		Veatch, John Allen (1867), Discovery of borax in California, in Browne and Taylor, Mineral resources of the states and territories west of the Mississippi: 180; Bailey, Gilbert E. (1902), The saline deposits of California: California Mining Bureau Bulletin 24: 54; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238.
    



        • Sulphur Creek District (Sulfur Creek District; Wilbur Springs District)
    

          • Clear Lake Oaks
    

    


      • Sonoma Co.
    

        • Mayacmas Mts (Mayacamas Mts)
    

          • West Mayacmas District
    
    		Smith, Robert Leland (1958), Some new occurrences of sassolite in the United States: American Mineralogist: 43: 1204; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 239; Dunning, G. S. & Cooper, J. F. (1993): History and minerals of The Geysers Sonoma County, California. Mineralogical Record: 24(5): 339-352.
    


      • Tehama Co.
    

        • Bend
    
    		Bailey, Gilbert E. (1902), The saline deposits of California: California Mining Bureau Bulletin 24: 69; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 239.
    

    • Nevada
    

      • Washoe Co.
    

        • Steamboat Springs District
    
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    

    


    

    Mineral
 and/or
Locality

    

    
 
    Search Google
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
    

  
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

    




    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013.  Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the 
  Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. 
Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of
hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here
to register.
    Current server date and time: 3rd Jan 2013 16:01:59     

    

    
		

    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds