Borcarite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Borcarite
Formula:
Ca4Mg(B4O6(OH)6)(CO3)2
Colour:
Greenish-blue to bluish green, nearly colorless, colorless in section
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
2.77
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in allusion to its composition, being a BORate and CARbonate.
This page provides mineralogical data about Borcarite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
723
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:723:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
a09eb207-f250-4023-b0da-e1cb86d4b771
IMA Classification of Borcarite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca4MgB4O6(CO3)2(OH)6
First published:
1965
Classification of Borcarite
6.DA.40
6 : BORATES
D : Tetraborates
A : Neso-tetraborates
6 : BORATES
D : Tetraborates
A : Neso-tetraborates
27.1.3.1
27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous
27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous
10.4.3
10 : Borates with other anions
4 : Borates with carbonate
10 : Borates with other anions
4 : Borates with carbonate
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 |
---|---|---|
Bcr | 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 Borcarite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Translucent
Comment:
slightly pearly on cleavages.
Colour:
Greenish-blue to bluish green, nearly colorless, colorless in section
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {100} and {110} and in several directions {hkl} and {hOl} with angles β 50-70°. The cleavage plane {100} is always smooth; the cleavage plane {110} is very often striated parallel to c.
Perfect on {100} and {110} and in several directions {hkl} and {hOl} with angles β 50-70°. The cleavage plane {100} is always smooth; the cleavage plane {110} is very often striated parallel to c.
Density:
2.77(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.765 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Borcarite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.590 nβ = 1.651 nγ = 1.657
2V:
Measured: 30° (2), Calculated: 32°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.067
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:
r < v distinct
Comments:
Z = b; Y ∧ c = 28(4)°
Chemistry of Borcarite
Mindat Formula:
Ca4Mg(B4O6(OH)6)(CO3)2
Crystallography of Borcarite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 17.840(4) Å, b = 8.380(2) Å, c = 4.445(1) Å
β = 102.04(3)°
β = 102.04(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.129 : 1 : 0.53
Unit Cell V:
649.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0014516 | Borcarite | Burns P C, Hawthorne F C (1995) Hydrogen bonding in borcarite, an unusual borate-carbonate mineral Mineralogical Magazine 59 297-304 | 1995 | Yakutskaya, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
0020477 | Borcarite | Yamnova N A, Simonov M A, Kazanskaya E V, Belov N V (1975) Refinement of the crystal structure of the Ca, Mg-carbonatoborate borcarite Ca4Mg/B4O6(OH)6/(CO3)2 Soviet Physics Doklady 20 799-801 | 1975 | Solongo metasomatite deposit, Buryatia, Russia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
7.57 Å | (100) |
2.67 Å | (100) |
1.886 Å | (100) |
2.91 Å | (90) |
2.27 Å | (90) |
2.21 Å | (90) |
1.610 Å | (90) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] |
Type Occurrence of Borcarite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Dense masses up to 0.5 m in diameter and as veins.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) Vernadsky Geological Museum, Moscow, Russia, 48151.
2) A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 68747, 68748.
2) A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 68747, 68748.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Occurs in kotoite marbles, formed in dolomites near a contact with granodiorite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Pertzev, N.N., Ostravskaya, I.V., Nikitina, I.B. (1965) The new mineral borcarite. Zapiski Vsesoyuznogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 94: 180-186.
Other Language Names for Borcarite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
6.DA.10 | Borax | Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O |
6.DA.15 | Tincalconite | Na2(B4O7) · 5H2O |
6.DA.20 | Hungchaoite | Mg(B4O7) · 9H2O |
6.DA.25 | Fedorovskite | Ca2Mg2B4O7(OH)6 |
6.DA.25 | Roweite | Ca2Mn2+2B4O7(OH)6 |
6.DA.30 | Hydrochlorborite | Ca4B8O15Cl2 · 21H2O |
6.DA.35 | Uralborite | Ca2[B3O3(OH)5 · OB(OH)3] |
6.DA.40 | Numanoite | Ca4Cu(B4O6(OH)6)(CO3)2 |
6.DA.60 | Fontarnauite | (Na,K)2(Sr,Ca) (SO4)[B5O8(OH)] · 2H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Not soluble in water. Easily soluble in acids, even acetic. Effervesces in HCl.
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 Borcarite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-723.html
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References for Borcarite
Reference List:
Kusachi, Isao, Takechi, Yasushi, Henmi, Chiyoko, Kobayashi, Shoichi (1997) Borcarite from Fuka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Mineralogical Journal, 19 (3) 115-122 doi:10.2465/minerj.19.115
Localities for Borcarite
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.
China | |
| Ottens et al. (2012) |
Ottens et al. (2014) | |
Japan | |
| Kusachi et al. (1997) +2 other references |
Mexico | |
| Peter Megaw collection |
Pakistan | |
| Bashir et al. (2009) |
Russia | |
| Handbook of Mineralogy. +1 other reference |
| Pertzev et al. (1965) +2 other references |
Jeff Weissman collection |
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Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia, China