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Sulfoborite

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Inder B deposit and salt dome, Atyrau (Gur'yev), Atyrau Oblysy (Atyrau Oblast'), Kazakhstan
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
Mg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|SO
 
4
|{B(OH)
 
4
}
 
2
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, reddish; ...
Hardness:4 - 4½
Name:In allusion to the composition, being both a sulphate (sulfate) and a borate.


Moydite-Cahnite Group

Classification of Sulfoborite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/G.11-10
Strunz 9th edition ID:6.AC.25
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.AC.55

6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)4, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc
Dana 8th edition ID:27.1.5.1

27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:10.3.1

10 : Borates with other anions
3 : Borates with sulphate
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Type Occurrence of Sulfoborite

Type Locality:Westeregeln, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Year of Discovery:1893
Geological Setting of type material:Salt deposit.

Occurrences of Sulfoborite

Geological Setting:Salt deposits

Physical Properties of Sulfoborite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, reddish; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 4½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {110} good; on {001} fair.
Density (measured):2.38 - 2.45 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sulfoborite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Morphology:Crystals prismatic [001] of differing habit.

Optical Data of Sulfoborite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.527 nβ = 1.536 nγ = 1.551
2V:Measured: 79° , Calculated: 78°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.024

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r > v weak

Chemical Properties of Sulfoborite

Formula:
Mg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|SO
 
4
|{B(OH)
 
4
}
 
2
]
Essential elements:B, H, Mg, O, S
All elements listed in formula:B, F, H, Mg, O, S

Relationship of Sulfoborite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.AC.05Sinhalite
MgAl[BO
 
4
]
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.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:

- +
10.3.2Heidornite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
3
B
 
5
O
 
8
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl(OH)
 
2
10.3.3Charlesite
Ca
 
6
(Al,Si)
 
2
[(OH,O)
 
12
|B(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 26H
 
2
O

Other Names for Sulfoborite

Synonyms:
Sulphoborite
Other Languages:
German:Sulfoborit
Sulphoborit
Russian:Сульфоборит
Spanish:Sulfoborita
Sulphoborita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids. Decomposed by water.
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 Sulfoborite

Reference List:Bücking (1893) Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin (Sitzungsberichte der): 967.

Naupert and Wense (1893) Ber.: 26: 874 (as Sulfoborit).

Thaddéeff (1897) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 28: 264.

Bücking (1902) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 36: 156.

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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 387-388 (as Sulfoborite).

American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 255-261.

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

Internet Links for Sulfoborite

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    Localities for Sulfoborite

    (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.
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Brunswick
    		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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 388.
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Stassfurt Potash deposit
    		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: 388; Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Atyrau Oblysy (Atyrau Oblast')
      • Atyrau (Gur'yev)
    		No reference listed
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Zheleznogorsk
    		Mazurov, M.P., Grishina, S.N., Istomin, V.E., and Titov, A.T. (2007): Geology of Ore Deposits 49(4), 271-284.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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