Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (6 online) Mindat Auctions

Tincalconite

Big Photo

Boron, Kramer District, Kern Co., California, USA
© 2002 John H. Betts

Show Tincalconite Photos (8)
Formula:
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 5H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:White, colourless ...
Hardness:2
Name:From "tincal", a Sanskrit name for borax, plus Greek κουία, "konis", powder, alluding to its composition and typical pulverulent occurrence.


Tincalconite-Borax Group

Classification of Tincalconite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/H.10-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.DA.15

6 : BORATES
D : Tetraborates
A : Neso-tetraborates
Dana 8th edition ID:26.4.2.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : Tetraborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.1.8

9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3967.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Tincalconite

Type Locality:Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1878
Geological Setting of type material:Metamorphosed bedded borate deposit in clay-shales.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
KerniteBorax

Physical Properties of Tincalconite

Lustre:Vitreous, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:White, colourless (artificial material); colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):2
Fracture:Hackly
Density (measured):1.88 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.894 g/cm3

Crystallography of Tincalconite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:R3 2
Cell Parameters:a = 11.097(2) Å, c = 21.114(4) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.903
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,251.71 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:9
Morphology:Fine-grained powder. Artificial crystals pseudo-cubic with equal development of the commonest forms "r" and "c," yielding an octahedron-like habit.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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

Optical Data of Tincalconite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.461 nε = 1.474
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.013

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate

Chemical Properties of Tincalconite

Formula:
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, H, Na, O
All elements listed in formula:B, H, Na, O

Relationship of Tincalconite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.DA.10Borax
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 10H
 
2
O
6.DA.20Hungchaoite
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 9H
 
2
O
6.DA.25Fedorovskite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
6
|B
 
4
O
 
7
]
6.DA.25Roweite
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
2
[(OH)
 
6
|B
 
4
O
 
7
]
6.DA.30Hydrochlorborite
Ca
 
4
B
 
8
O
 
15
Cl
 
2
·21H
 
2
O
6.DA.35Uralborite
Ca
 
2
[B
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
5
·OB(OH)
 
3
]
6.DA.40Borcarite
Ca
 
4
Mg[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
6
]
6.DA.40Numanoite
Ca
 
4
Cu[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
6
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.1.1Sassolite
H
 
3
BO
 
3
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
9.1.9Borax
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 10H
 
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 Tincalconite

Synonyms:
MohaviteOctahedral Borax
Other Languages:
German:Juwelierborax
Tincalconit
Russian:Тинкалконит
Spanish:Tincalconita

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 Tincalconite

Reference List:Payen (1827) Journal chim. méd.: 3: 594 (as Octahedral borax).

Arzruni (1876) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 158: 250.

Shepard (1878) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 1: 144.

Schaller (1930) USGS Professional Paper 158: 137.

Schaller (1934) Mineralogical Magazine: 23: 634 (as Mohavite).

Minder (1935) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 92: 301.

Pabst and Sawyer (1948) American Mineralogist: 33: 472.

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: 337-339.

American Minealogist (1973): 58: 523.

Acta Crystallographica: C47: 2279-2282.

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

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813 pp.: 707.

Articles/Blogs about Tincalconite

Internet Links for Tincalconite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Tincalconite on Google
  • Look for Tincalconite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Tincalconite on Webmineral
  • Look for Tincalconite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Tincalconite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Tincalconite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Tincalconite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Tincalconite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Search for Tincalconite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Find Tincalconite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Search for - Tincalconite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Tincalconite specimens
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Tincalconite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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.
    China
     
    • Gansu (Ganzu) Province
      • Jiuquan Prefecture
        • Yumen Co.
    		Anthony, J.W. et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy
    • Tibet Autonomous Region
      • Nagchu (Naqu) Prefecture
        • Xainza (Shenzha) Co.
    		http://www.mineralmundi.com/dujiali-lake-10055350.htm
      • Ngari Prefecture
        • Gê'gyai Co.
    		http://www.mineralmundi.com/chalaka-10055348.htm
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Pisa Province
        • Pomarance
    		Quagliarella Asciano F., Vurro F. (1973) - Tincalconite di Larderello - Per. Min. Roma, 42, 3, pp. 583-589
    Turkey
     
    • Central Anatolia Region
      • Eskisehir Province
    		CAHIT HELVACI & RICARDO N. ALONSO (2000) Borate Deposits of Turkey and Argentina; A Summary and Geological Comparison. Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 9, 2000, pp. 1-27
    Ukraine
     
    • Crimea Oblast'
    		World of Stones v.9
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
    		USGS
      • Kern Co.
        • Kramer District
    		[www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]
            • U.S. Borax Mine
    		No reference listed
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
      • Lake Co.
        • Clear Lake Oaks
          • Clear Lake
      • Los Angeles Co.
        • Lang
          • Tick Canyon
    		www.mineralsocal.org
      • San Bernardino Co.
    		American Mineralogist (1973): 58: 523.
    • Nevada
      • Esmeralda Co.
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    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. 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.