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Searlesite

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U.S. Borax Open Pit Mine, Boron, Kramer District, Kern Co., California, USA
© JBS 2006

Show Searlesite Photos (4)
Formula:
NaBSi
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
System:MonoclinicColour:White, light brown
Hardness:1 - 2
Name:Named after John W. Searles, California pioneer and discoverer of Searles Lake, USA
This page provides mineralogical data about Searlesite.

Classification of Searlesite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/G.05-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EF.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
F : Single nets with 6-membered rings, connected by M[4], M[8], etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:71.3.5.4

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
3 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 2:1 clays
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.5.3

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
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Type Occurrence of Searlesite

Type Locality:Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1914

Physical Properties of Searlesite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:White, light brown
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 2

Crystallography of Searlesite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.98Å, b = 7.06Å, c = 4.9Å
β = 93.95°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.13 : 1 : 0.694
Unit Cell Volume:V 275.40 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Searlesite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.516 nβ = 1.531 nγ = 1.535
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.019

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

Chemical Properties of Searlesite

Formula:
NaBSi
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
Essential elements:B, H, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:B, H, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Mg,H2O

Relationship of Searlesite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.EF.05Petalite
LiAlSi
 
4
O
 
10
9.EF.10Sanbornite
Ba
 
2
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EF.20Silinaite
NaLiSi
 
2
O
 
5
·2H
 
2
O
9.EF.25Kanemite
NaHSi
 
2
O
 
4
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
9.EF.30Yakovenchukite-(Y)
K
 
3
NaCaY
 
2
[Si
 
12
O
 
30
] · 4H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
17.5.1Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
Si
 
3
BO
 
10
(OH)
 
6
17.5.2Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
17.5.4Olenite
([ ],Na)[(Al,Li)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(O,OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.5Elbaite
[Na][(Li,Al)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.6Kalborsite
K
 
6
[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
|Al
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
20
]
17.5.7Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
17.5.8Poudretteite
KNa
 
2
B
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
17.5.9Liddicoatite
[Ca][Li
 
2
Al][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.10Datolite
CaB[OH|SiO
 
4
]
17.5.11Danburite
Ca[BSiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.5.12Howlite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
SiO
 
9
(OH)
 
5
17.5.13Bakerite
Ca
 
4
B
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|HBO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.14Oyelite
Ca
 
10
Si
 
8
B
 
2
O
 
29
·12.5H
 
2
O
17.5.15Kornerupine
Mg
 
3
Al
 
6
(Si,Al,B)
 
5
O
 
21
(OH)
17.5.16Harkerite
Ca
 
24
Mg
 
8
Al
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH)
 
32
(BO
 
3
)
 
8
(CO
 
3
)
 
8
(H
 
2
O,Cl)
17.5.17Serendibite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.18Stillwellite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Ca)BSiO
 
5
17.5.19Tadzhikite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
4
(Ca,Y)
 
2
(Ti
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)[B
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
22
(O,OH)
 
6
](OH)
 
2
17.5.20Melanocerite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
O
 
12
(OH,F)·nH
 
2
O
17.5.21Okanoganite-(Y)
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Y,Ce)
 
12
Si
 
6
B
 
2
O
 
27
F
 
14
17.5.22Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.23Tritomite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.24Cappelenite-(Y)
Ba(Y,Ce)
 
6
Si
 
3
B
 
6
O
 
24
F
 
2
17.5.25Dumortierite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
7
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.26Holtite
(Ta,Sb)Al
 
6
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.27Dravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.28 Ferridravite
17.5.29Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.30Uvite
[Ca][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.31Garrelsite
Ba
 
3
NaSi
 
2
B
 
7
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
17.5.32Tienshanite
Na
 
2
BaMnTiB
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
20
17.5.33Leucosphenite
BaNa
 
4
Ti
 
2
B
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
30
17.5.34Taramellite
Ba
 
4
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.35Titantaramellite
Ba
 
4
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.36Nagashimalite
Ba
 
4
(V,Ti)
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl
17.5.37Chromdravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][(Cr
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.38Wawayandaite
Ca
 
6
Mn
 
2
BBe
 
9
Si
 
6
O
 
23
(OH,Cl)
 
15
17.5.39Werdingite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
14
Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
37
17.5.40Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.41Axinite
(Ca,Fe,Mn)Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
17.5.42Tinzenite
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.44Schorl
[Na][Fe
2+
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.45Buergerite
[Na][Fe
3+
3
][Al
 
6
][O
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.46Feruvite
[Ca][(Fe
2+
 
 ,Mg)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.47Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.48Homilite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)B
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.5.49Grandidierite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
17.5.50Hyalotekite
(Ba,Pb,Ca,K)
 
6
(B,Si,Al)
 
2
(Si,Be)
 
10
O
 
28
(F,Cl)
17.5.51Hellandite-(Y)
(Ca,Y)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4

Other Names for Searlesite

German names:
Searlesit
Russian names:
Сирлезит
Spanish names:
Searlesita

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 Searlesite

Reference List:Larsen, E.S. & W.B. Hicks (1914) Searlesite, a new mineral, San Bernardino County, California, American Journal of Science, 4th. Series: 38: 437-440.

American Mineralogist (1976): 61: 123-129.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Internet Links for Searlesite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Searlesite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Searlesite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Searlesite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
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    (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.
    Argentina
     
    • Salta
      • Salar Del Hombre Muerto
    		Bull. Soc. Franç. Minéralo. Cristallo. , 1974, 97, p. 497.
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
     
    • Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Tuzla Canton
        • Tuzla
    		Am Min 79: pp 562-569
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Rouville Co.
        • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		Horváth, L and Gault, R.A. (1990), The mineralogy of Mont Saint-Hilaire Quebec. Mineralogical Record: 21: 284-359.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Lovozero Massif
    		[World of Stones 95:5-6, p64]
    Serbia
     
    Stanley, C.J., Jones, G.C., Rumsey, M.S., Blake, C., Roberts, A.C., Stirling, J.A.R., Carpenter, G.J.C., Whitfield, P.S., Grice, J.D., LePage, Y. (2007): Jadarite, LiNaSiB3O7(OH), a new mineral species from the Jadar Basin, Serbia. European Journal of Mineralogy, 19, 575-580.
    Tajikistan
     
    • Region of Republican Subordination
      • Tien Shan Mts
        • Alayskiy (Alai) Range
    		http://www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/dara.htm
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    USGS
      • Kern Co.
        • Kramer District
    		Rock Currier collection
            • U.S. Borax Mine
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, 64, 311
    Am Min 49:543-555
    Cal Div of Mines & Geology "Mineral Information Service" V. 22 N. 10 Oct 1969
      • San Bernardino Co.
    		American Mineralogist (1950): 35: 1014.
    • Colorado
      • Garfield Co.
        • Piceance Basin
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
      • Rio Blanco Co.
        • Piceance Basin
          • Green River Formation
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
        • Piceance Creek Basin
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    • Nevada
    		AmMin 19:268
    Rocks & Minerals, Nov. 1999
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
        • Fish Lake Marsh
        • Silver Peak Range
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Mineral Co.
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada; Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, 66
    • New Mexico
      • Colfax Co.
        • Springer
          • Point of Rocks Mesa (Pecks Mesa)
    		Rocks & Min.:60:229.
    • Utah
      • Duchesne Co.
    		Am Min 44:326-327; Am Min 58:211-217
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2002AM/finalprogram/abstract_45510.htm.
    Am Min 45:188-199
      • Uintah Co.
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Am Min 41:672
    • Wyoming
      • Sweetwater Co.
        • Green River formation
    		Am Min 46:420-429
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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. Mineral Specimens available here.