Sassolite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Sassolite
View of the Sasso Pisano soffioni area, ca. 1920.
Sasso Pisano, Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
Sasso Pisano, Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
Formula:
H3BO3
Colour:
White to grey, occasionally colourless, yellow or brown
Lustre:
Pearly
Hardness:
1
Specific Gravity:
1.46 - 1.5
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, Sasso, Tuscany, Italy.
This page provides mineralogical data about Sassolite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3540
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3540:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
3fb80a04-749c-4a49-aa8b-47dde02c41fe
IMA Classification of Sassolite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
B(OH)3
Classification of Sassolite
6.AA.05
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
A : BO3, without additional anions; 1(D).
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
A : BO3, without additional anions; 1(D).
24.3.1.1
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
3 : AmBn[XO3]p
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
3 : AmBn[XO3]p
9.1.1
9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid
9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Sso | 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 Sassolite
Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White to grey, occasionally colourless, yellow or brown
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001} micaceous
{001} micaceous
Density:
1.46 - 1.5 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.48 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sassolite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.340 nβ = 1.456 nγ = 1.459
2V:
Measured: 5° , Calculated: 16°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.119
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
none
Optical Extinction:
X almost ⊥ {001}; OAP nearly ‖ b and ⊥ {001}.
Chemistry of Sassolite
Mindat Formula:
H3BO3
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Sassolite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.02 Å, b = 7.06 Å, c = 6.59 Å
α = 103.65°, β = 101.11°, γ = 59.98°
α = 103.65°, β = 101.11°, γ = 59.98°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.994 : 1 : 0.933
Unit Cell V:
273.72 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Tabular crystals {001}, pseudohexagonal in development; rarely needle-lke [001]. Usually small scales; grouped in stalactitic forms at times. Coatings.
Twinning:
Common on twin axis [001].
Crystal Structure
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0009809 | Sassolite | Gajhede M, Larsen S, Rettrup S (1986) Electron density of orthoboric acid determined by X-ray diffraction at 105 K and ab initio calculations Acta Crystallographica B42 545-552 | 1986 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0018735 | Sassolite | Zachariasen W H (1934) The crystal lattice of boric acid, BO3H3 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 88 150-161 | 1934 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.18 Å | (100) |
6.02 Å | (10) |
1.590 Å | (10) |
5.89 Å | (<10) |
4.59 Å | (<10) |
4.20 Å | (<10) |
4.04 Å | (<10) |
Comments:
Furnace Creek district, California, USA. The data are from Allen and Kramer (1957).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] | |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals | |
57 : Other minerals formed by human processes |
Type Occurrence of Sassolite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Museum für Naturkunde, Humboldt-Universität-Berlin, Germany, 1997-4022.
Synonyms of Sassolite
Other Language Names for Sassolite
Catalan:Sassolita
Dutch:Sassoliet
French:Acide boracique
Acide borique
Acide borique
Latin:Acidum boracis
Polish:Sassolin
Russian:Сассолин
Spanish:Sassolita
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
2 photos of Sassolite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
1 photo of Sassolite associated with Barberiite | (NH4)[BF4] |
1 photo of Sassolite associated with Sulphur | S8 |
1 photo of Sassolite associated with Clinometaborite | HBO2 |
1 photo of Sassolite associated with Metaborite | HBO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
6.AA.15 | Nordenskiöldine | CaSn4+[BO3]2 |
6.AA.15 | Tusionite | Mn2+Sn4+[BO3]2 |
6.AA.35 | Jimboite | (Mn2+,Mg)3[BO3]2 |
6.AA.35 | Kotoite | Mg3[BO3]2 |
6.AA.40 | Takedaite | Ca3[BO3]2 |
Other Information
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 Sassolite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3540.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Sassolite
Reference List:
Klaproth, M. H. (1802) Untersuchung des Sassolins. In Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper Vol. 3. Rottmann, Berlin. p.95-101.
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin Vol. 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.130
Allen, Robert D., Kramer, Henry (1957) Ginorite and sassolite from Death Valley, California. American Mineralogist, 42 (1-2) 56-61
Localities for Sassolite
Locality List
- 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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Pring et al. (2000) |
Chile | |
| TESIS PARA OPTAR AL GRADO DE MAGÍSTER ... |
Inostroza et al. (2020) | |
| Inostroza et al. (2020) |
Germany | |
| Sindern et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
India | |
Walter Schumann (2008) | |
Italy | |
| Scacchi (1849) |
Russo et al. (2017) | |
| Russo |
Russo et al. (2004) | |
Pelloux (1927) +1 other reference | |
| HOLLAND et al. (1881) +1 other reference |
| HOLLAND |
| Allen et al. (1957) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Okamoto collection (curated at the Geological Survey museum, Japan) |
| Okano (1962) |
| Okano (1962) |
Mozambique | |
| Thomas et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
Nicaragua | |
| Quisefit et al. (1989) |
Russia | |
| [Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p163-180] +1 other reference |
[Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p.163-180] | |
| Shevko et al. (2018) |
| Thomas et al. (2009) |
Tajikistan | |
| Thomas et al. (2010) |
USA | |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238 +1 other reference |
Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. +1 other reference | |
| - (n.d.) |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. +5 other references |
Erd et al. (1979) | |
| Cal Div of Mines & Geology "Mineral ... |
Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. +4 other references | |
Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. +4 other references | |
Donald E. Garrett (1998) | |
| |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. +3 other references |
| |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 239 +3 other references |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 239. +2 other references |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
Vietnam | |
| Le Thi-Thu Huong (2017) +2 other references |
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La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Lipari, Eolie Islands, Metropolitan City of Messina, Sicily, Italy