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Sinhalite

Formula:
MgAl[BO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colorless, pale gray, ...
Hardness:6½ - 7
Name:From sanskrit "Sinhala" (Sri Lanka)


Usually in irregular masses in high grade metamorphic rocks; rarely forms euhedral crystals in mineralized marbles.

Classification of Sinhalite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/G.07-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.AC.05

6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)4, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc
Dana 8th edition ID:24.1.1.1

24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
1 : A2XO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.5.2

9 : Borates
5 : Borates of Al and rare earths
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Type Occurrence of Sinhalite

Type Locality:Sri Lanka
Year of Discovery:1952

Physical Properties of Sinhalite

Lustre:Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Colorless, pale gray, pale yellow, pale pink, green-brown to dark brown
Streak:colorless/white
Hardness (Mohs):6½ - 7
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.475 - 3.5 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.45 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sinhalite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnma {P21/n 21/m 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 4.328Å, b = 9.868Å, c = 5.676Å
α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.439 : 1 : 0.575
Unit Cell Volume:V 242.41 ų
Z:4
Morphology:crystals very rare, usually in granular masses
Comment:Non-standard setting Pbnm!
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.94 (40)
3.96 (30)
3.25 (70)
2.62 (60)
2.38 (40)
2.31 (50)
2.14 (100)

Optical Data of Sinhalite

Type:Biaxial (-)
Dispersion:r > v strong

Chemical Properties of Sinhalite

Formula:
MgAl[BO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Al, B, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, Mg, O

Relationship of Sinhalite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.AC.10Pseudosinhalite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
3
[O
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
2
]
6.AC.15Behierite
(Ta
5+
 
,Nb
5+
 
)[BO
 
4
]
6.AC.15Schiavinatoite
(Nb,Ta)BO
 
4
6.AC.20Frolovite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
6.AC.25Hexahydroborite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
· 6H
 
2
O
6.AC.30Henmilite
Ca
 
2
Cu(OH)
 
4
|[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
6.AC.35Bandylite
Cu[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
]
6.AC.40Teepleite
Na
 
2
[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
]
6.AC.45Moydite-(Y)
Y[CO
 
3
|B(OH)
 
4
]
6.AC.50Carboborite
Ca
 
2
Mg[CO
 
3
|B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
· 4H
 
2
O
6.AC.55Sulfoborite
Mg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|SO
 
4
|{B(OH)
 
4
}
 
2
]
6.AC.60Lüneburgite
Mg
 
3
B
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
6.AC.65Seamanite
Mn
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
|B(OH)
 
4
]
6.AC.70Cahnite
Ca
 
2
[AsO
 
4
|B(OH)
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.5.3Braitschite-(Ce)
(Ca,Na
 
2
)
 
7
(Ce,La)
 
2
B
 
22
O
 
43
·7H
 
2
O

Other Names for Sinhalite

Other Languages:
German:Sinhalit
Russian:Синхалит
Spanish:Sinhalita

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 Sinhalite

Reference List:Mineralogical Magazine (1952): 29: 841-849.

American Mineralogist (1952): 37: 700, 1072.

Mineralogical Magazine : 35: 196-199.

European Journal of Mineralogy (1994): 6: 313-321.

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

Internet Links for Sinhalite

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

    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.
    (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.
    Burma (Myanmar)
     
    • Mandalay Division
      • Sagaing District
        • Mogok
    Mineralogical Magazine 1958 31 : 978-979.
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Hastings Co.
        • Bancroft District
          • Herschel Township
            • Baptiste Lake
    Geological Survey of Canada Miscellaneous Report 39; Sabina, A.P. (1982): Some rare minerals of the Bancroft area. Mineralogical Record 13 (4), 226
    China
     
    • Liaoning Province (Manchuria; Dongbei Region)
      • Dandong Prefecture
        • Kuandian Co.
          • Zhuanmiao Boron deposit
    Anthony, J.W. et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
    [World of Stones 12:49]
    P.M. Kartashov data
    Sri Lanka
    Min Mag 29 (1952), 841-849
    Min Mag 29 (1952), 841-849
    • Central Province
    • Sabaragamuwa Province
    Natural History Museum Vienna collection
    No reference listed
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Hardyston Township
          • Rudeville
    Personal communication Dr. Paulus B. Moore to C. Lemanski, Jr. and others (circa 1997 & 2003)(unpublished).
    • New York
      • Orange Co.
        • Town of Warwick
    http://departments.colgate.edu/geology/research/Rader&Peck06.pdf
      • Warren Co.
    www.excaliburmineral.com
    George Robinson & Steven Chamberlain (2007) Gazetteer of major New York State mineral localities. Rocks & Minerals, 82, #6, 472-483.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 14th Nov 2009 05:29:15