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Tuzlaite

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Kohnstein Quarry, Niedersachswerfen, Nordhausen, Harz Mts, Thuringia, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

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Formula:
NaCaB
 
5
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:White to colourless
Hardness:2 - 3
Name:Named after its discovery locality, Tuzla, Bosnia and Hercegovina.


Note: Some acicular gypsum from Niedersachswerfen has been erroneously sold as tuzlaite.

Classification of Tuzlaite

IMA status:Approved 1993
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/K.03-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.EC.25

6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
C : Phyllo-pentaborates
Dana 8th edition ID:26.5.12.2

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates
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Type Occurrence of Tuzlaite

Type Locality:Tuzla Mine, Tuzla, Tuzla Canton, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
General Appearance of Type Material:crosscutting veinlets in marl between halite layers
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Croatian Museum of Natural History, Zagreb, Croatia
Year of Discovery:1994
Geological Setting of type material:Evaporite deposits
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Halite

Physical Properties of Tuzlaite

Lustre:Silky, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White to colourless
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 3
Cleavage:Perfect
{001}
Density (measured):2.21 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.23 g/cm3

Crystallography of Tuzlaite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 6.5Å, b = 13.28Å, c = 11.46Å
β = 92.97°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.489 : 1 : 0.863
Unit Cell Volume:V 987.90 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:prismatic and elongate to a

Optical Data of Tuzlaite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.532 nβ = 1.544 nγ = 1.561
2V:Measured: 80° to 82°, Calculated: 82°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.029

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

Chemical Properties of Tuzlaite

Formula:
NaCaB
 
5
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, Ca, H, Na, O
All elements listed in formula:B, Ca, H, Na, O
Common Impurities:Sr,Al

Relationship of Tuzlaite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.EC.05Biringuccite
Na
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
8
(OH) · H
 
2
O
6.EC.05Nasinite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
 · 5H
 
2
O
6.EC.10Gowerite
Ca[B
 
5
O
 
8
(OH)][B(OH)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
6.EC.15P-Veatchite
6.EC.15Veatchite
Sr
 
2
B
 
11
O
 
16
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
6.EC.20Volkovskite
KCa
 
4
[B
 
5
O
 
8
OH]
 
4
[B(OH)
 
3
]
 
2
Cl · 4H
 
2
O
6.EC.30Heidornite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
3
B
 
5
O
 
8
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl(OH)
 
2
6.EC.35Brianroulstonite
Ca
 
3
[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
6
](OH)Cl
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Tuzlaite

Synonyms:
IMA1993-022
Other Languages:
German:Tuzlait
Russian:Тузлаит
Spanish:Tuzlaita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:None
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 Tuzlaite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1994): 79: 562-569.

New Minerals (1997), New Minerals 1990-1994.

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

Internet Links for Tuzlaite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Tuzlaite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Tuzlaite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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    • Localities for Tuzlaite

    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.
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
     
    • Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Tuzla Canton
        • Tuzla
    		American Mineralogist, volume 079, pp. 562-569(1994)
    Germany
     
    • Thuringia
      • Harz Mts
        • Nordhausen
          • Niedersachswerfen
    		Siemroth, J. (2008): Das Vorkommen von Boratmineralien im Werra-Anhydrit des Steinbruchs Kohnstein bei Niedersachswerfen am Südharz, Der Aufschluss, Vol. 59, 353-366
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