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Carboborite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Carboborite (2)

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Carboborite

Titovskoe B deposit, Tas-Khayakhtakh Range, Dogdo River Basin, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia

Carboborite

Titovskoe B deposit, Tas-Khayakhtakh Range, Dogdo River Basin, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia

Carboborite

Titovskoe B deposit, Tas-Khayakhtakh Range, Dogdo River Basin, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia

Carboborite

Titovskoe B deposit, Tas-Khayakhtakh Range, Dogdo River Basin, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia

Carboborite

Titovskoe B deposit, Tas-Khayakhtakh Range, Dogdo River Basin, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia

Carboborite

Titovskoe B deposit, Tas-Khayakhtakh Range, Dogdo River Basin, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia

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About CarboboriteHide

Formula:

Ca₂Mg[B(OH)₄]₂(CO₃)₂ · 4H₂O

Colour:

Colorless

Lustre:

Vitreous

Hardness:

Specific Gravity:

2.12

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Name:

Named in allusion to the composition, containing the essential anionic chemical components, CARBOnate and BORate.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Da Qaidam salt lake (Dachaidan salt lake), Da Qaidam (Dachaidan Co.), Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, China

This mineral has been reported from an undisclosed salt lake on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau (Xie et al., 1964), a huge area that includes northern Tibet and northwestern Qinghai provinces. According to Yang (1991), Da Qaidam salt lake in Qinghai Province is the only occurrence of the mineral in that area.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

891

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:891:0

GUID
(UUID V4):

2518d886-0ad1-4064-b1b1-5e6857b158b9

IMA Classification of CarboboriteHide

IMA status:

Approved

First published:

1964

Type description reference:

Xiande Xie, Laibao Liu, and Ziqiang Qian (1964): New mineral - Carboborite, MgCa2(CO3)(B2O5) x 10H2O. Scientia Sinica 13(5), 813-821 (in Russian). - American Mineralogist (1965), 50, 262 (abstract).

Classification of CarboboriteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

6.AC.50

6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)₄, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc

Dana 8th ed.:

27.1.1.1

27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous

Hey's CIM Ref.:

10.4.2

10 : Borates with other anions
4 : Borates with carbonate

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Cab	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of CarboboriteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Translucent

Colour:

Colorless

Hardness:

2 on Mohs scale

Cleavage:

Perfect
{101}, perfect; {110}, distinct; {001}, imperfect.

Density:

2.12 g/cm³ (Measured) 2.15 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of CarboboriteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 1.507 n_β = 1.546 n_γ = 1.569

2V:

Measured: 75°

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.062

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Low

Dispersion:

none

Optical Extinction:

Y = b; X ∧ a = 10°19′; Z ∧ c = 12°.

Chemistry of CarboboriteHide

Mindat Formula:

Ca₂Mg[B(OH)₄]₂(CO₃)₂ · 4H₂O

Elements listed:

B, C, Ca, H, Mg, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of CarboboriteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Cell Parameters:

a = 18.59 Å, b = 6.68 Å, c = 11.32 Å
β = 91.68°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 2.783 : 1 : 1.695

Unit Cell V:

1,405.13 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Steep pseudorhombohedral crystals, with dominant {101} and {110}, modified by {011}, {110}, {111}, and {101}.

Comment:

Space Group: P21/n.

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0012074	Carboborite	Zhesheng M, Nicheng S, Jinchuan S, Zhizhong P (1981) The refinement of the crystal structure of carboborite MgCa2[CO3]2[B(OH)4]24H2O* Bulletin de Mineralogie 104 578-581		1981		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Carboborite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Zhesheng M'
'Nicheng S'
'Jinchuan S'
'Zhizhong P'
_journal_name_full 'Bulletin de Mineralogie'
_journal_volume 104 
_journal_year 1981
_journal_page_first 578
_journal_page_last 581
_publ_section_title
;
 The refinement of the crystal structure of carboborite MgCa2[CO3]2[B(OH)4]2*4H2O
;
_database_code_amcsd 0012074
_chemical_formula_sum 'Mg Ca2 C2 B2 O18 H16'
_cell_length_a 11.011
_cell_length_b 6.674
_cell_length_c 10.692
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 116.64
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 702.316
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.148
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 1 21/n 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
Mg   0.50000   0.00000   0.00000
Ca   0.29850   0.99870   0.23910
C   0.27640   0.26540   0.02350
B   0.50800  -0.29430   0.24640
O1   0.20520   0.28600   0.09040
O2   0.34370   0.10080   0.04300
O3   0.41210   0.29750   0.38380
O4   0.27770   0.40250  -0.05890
O5   0.54770  -0.22320   0.14140
O6   0.57760  -0.48270   0.30930
O7   0.52780  -0.13620   0.34970
O8   0.63700   0.19340   0.15190
O9   0.35930  -0.33070   0.18160
H1   0.11600   0.19100   0.63100
H2   0.17300   0.12000   0.40700
H3   0.35800   0.46600   0.62400
H4   0.42800   0.30500   0.88700
H5   0.40100   0.06700   0.61500
H6   0.46000   0.26700   0.47100
H7   0.16800   0.35200   0.72400
H8   0.47700   0.35000   0.37900
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Mg 0.00270 0.00620 0.00280 0.00000 0.00200 0.00000
Ca 0.00260 0.00430 0.00250 0.00020 0.00180 0.00030
C 0.00170 0.00430 0.00130 0.00020 0.00110 -0.00020
B 0.00390 0.00840 0.00440 0.00030 0.00250 0.00080
O1 0.00390 0.00760 0.00330 0.00060 0.00270 -0.00020
O2 0.00440 0.00790 0.00470 0.00180 0.00380 0.00160
O3 0.00340 0.00940 0.00370 -0.00060 0.00150 0.00040
O4 0.00650 0.00850 0.00510 0.00220 0.00440 0.00210
O5 0.00430 0.00870 0.00420 0.00170 0.00340 0.00170
O6 0.00350 0.00740 0.00520 0.00110 0.00220 0.00210
O7 0.00320 0.00870 0.00360 -0.00120 0.00210 -0.00100
O8 0.00610 0.01050 0.00520 0.00030 0.00120 0.00130
O9 0.00270 0.00730 0.00340 0.00040 0.00200 0.00060

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
5.63 Å	(100)
4.315 Å	(100)
3.136 Å	(80)
2.160 Å	(80)
2.727 Å	(70)
2.437 Å	(60)
4.86 Å	(50)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
25 : Evaporites (prebiotic)

Type Occurrence of CarboboriteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Da Qaidam salt lake (Dachaidan salt lake), Da Qaidam (Dachaidan Co.), Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, China

General Appearance of Type Material:

Steep pseudorhombohedral crystals, 0.5 to 3 mm.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

National Museum for Geology, Beijing, China, number M05552.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

In a lacustrine borate deposit.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Ulexite

Hydroboracite

Gypsum

Reference:

Xiande Xie, Laibao Liu, and Ziqiang Qian (1964): New mineral - Carboborite, MgCa2(CO3)(B2O5) x 10H2O. Scientia Sinica 13(5), 813-821 (in Russian). - American Mineralogist (1965), 50, 262 (abstract).

Other Language Names for CarboboriteHide

German:Carboborit

Russian:Карбоборит

Simplified Chinese:水碳硼石

Spanish:Carboborita

Traditional Chinese:水碳硼石

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

6.AC.05	Sinhalite	MgAl(BO₄)	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
6.AC.10	Pseudosinhalite	Mg₂Al₃(BO₃)₂(OH)O₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
6.AC.15	Béhierite	(Ta⁵⁺,Nb⁵⁺)(BO₄)	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/amd
6.AC.15	Schiavinatoite	(Nb,Ta)(BO₄)	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/amd
6.AC.20	Frolovite	Ca[B(OH)₄]₂	Tric. 1 : P1
6.AC.25	Hexahydroborite	Ca[B(OH)₄]₂ · 2H₂O or CaB₂O₄ · 6H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
6.AC.30	Henmilite	Ca₂Cu[B(OH)₄]₂(OH)₄	Tric. 1 : P1
6.AC.35	Bandylite	Cu[B(OH)₄]Cl	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm
6.AC.40	Teepleite	Na₂[B(OH)₄]Cl	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm
6.AC.45	Moydite-(Y)	Y[B(OH)₄](CO₃)	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca
6.AC.55	Sulfoborite	Mg₃[B(OH)₄]₂(SO₄)(OH,F)₂	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
6.AC.60	Lüneburgite	Mg₃[B₂(OH)₆](PO₄)₂ · 6H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
6.AC.65	Seamanite	Mn²⁺₃[B(OH)₄](PO₄)(OH)₂	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
6.AC.70	Cahnite	Ca₂[B(OH)₄](AsO₄)	Tet. 4 : P4

Fluorescence of CarboboriteHide

In UV light:

Fluoresces white under UV; pale green phosphorescence.

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for CarboboriteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-891.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for CarboboriteHide

Reference List:

Hsieh, H.-T., Chien, T.C., Liu, L.P. (1964) The new mineral carboborite, MgCa2(CO3)(B2O5)·10H2O. Scientia Sinica, 13, 813-821. (in Russian)

Fleischer, M., Mandarino, J.A., Strunz, H., Cech, F. (1965) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 50, 261-268 (262).

Ma, Z., Shi, N., Shen, J., Peng, Z. (1981) The refinement of the crystal structure of carboborite MgCa2[CO3]2[B(OH)4]2·4H2O. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 104, 578-581.

Yang, Shaoxiu (1991): Saline deposits and minerals of salt lakes in Qinghai-Xizang plateau. Journal of Lake Sciences, 3(1), 1-10 (in Chinese with English abstract).

Grew, Edward S., Anovitz, Lawrence M., Grew, Edward S., Anovitz, Lawrence M. - Eds. (1996) Boron - Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry. Reviews in Mineralogy Vol. 33. Mineralogical Society of America

(2023) Carboborite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for CarboboriteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


China (TL)
Qinghai Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Da Qaidam (Dachaidan Co.) ⓘ Da Qaidam salt lake (Dachaidan salt lake) (TL)	Xiande Xie et al. (1964) +3 other references
Shandong Yantai Qixia City ⓘ Dafangshan	Mineralogical Society of America - ...
ⓘ Tibet	Mineralogical Society of America - ...

Russia
Sakha Polar Yakutia Dogdo River Basin Tas-Khayakhtakh Range ⓘ Titovskoe B deposit	Tony Nickischer

USA
California Inyo County ⓘ Furnace Creek Mining District (Furnace Creek Borate Mining District)	Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 243. +2 other references
ⓘ Death Valley National Park	USGS

Carboborite

About CarboboriteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of CarboboriteHide

Classification of CarboboriteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of CarboboriteHide

Optical Data of CarboboriteHide

Chemistry of CarboboriteHide

Crystallography of CarboboriteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of CarboboriteHide

Other Language Names for CarboboriteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Fluorescence of CarboboriteHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for CarboboriteHide

References for CarboboriteHide

Localities for CarboboriteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide