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The mineralogy of Boron

General Properties
Symbol:B
Commodity pages:Boron
Atomic Number:5
Standard atomic weight (Ar):10.811(7)
Electron configuration:[He] 2s2 2p1
Photos
<
Pure crystalline boron
>
Atomic Properties
Electronegativity (Pauling scale):2.04
Atomic Radius:87 pm
Ionic Radius:27 pm (+3)
1st Ionization energy:801 kJ/mol
1st Electron affinity:-27 kJ/mol
Oxidation States:1,2,3
Physical Properties
Standard State:solid
Bonding Type:covalent network
Melting Point:2348 K
Boiling Point:4273 K
Density:2.46 g/cm3
Metal/Non-Metal:metalloid
Main isotopes of Boron
Isotope% in NatureHalf LifeDecay typeDecay product
10B19.9(7)%stable
11B80.1(7)%stable
Main ions of Boron
NameIonExample minerals
boronB3+
borideB3-
tetrafluoborateBF4-
monoborateBO33-Sassolite
Other Information
Year Discovered:1808
Discovered By:
03502840017362062491188.jpg
Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac
05531900017362062497878.jpg
Louis Jacques Thénard


Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, Louis Jacques Thénard
Year Isolated:1808
Isolated By:
08556590017362062496397.jpg
Humphry Davy
Named For:from borax and carbon
CPK color coding:#FFB5B5
External Links:WikipediaWebElementsLos Alamos National LaboratoryTheodore Gray's PeriodicTable.com
Simple Compounds and Mineral Names
Nitridesboron nitrideBN+3Qingsongite
Sulfidesdiboron trisulphideB2S3+3
HydridesdiboraneB2H6+3
decaboraneB10H14
hexaborane B6H10
pentaborane B5H9
pentaborane B5H11
tetraborane B4H10
Fluoridesboron trifluorideBF3+3
diboron tetrafluorideB2F4+2
Chloridesboron trichlorideBCl3+3
diboron tetrachlorideB2Cl4+2
Bromidesboron tribromideBBr3+3
Iodidesboron triiodideBI3+3
Oxidesdiboron trioxideB2O3+3
Mineral Diversity of Boron
1. Elements 2 valid mineral species
3. Halides6 valid mineral species
4. Oxides 1 valid mineral species
6. Borates168 valid mineral species
7. Sulfates 6 valid mineral species
9. Silicates 125 valid mineral species
Total:308 valid species containing essential Boron
Minerals with the greatest weight % of Boron
QingsongiteBN43.56 %
JingsuiiteTiB231.12 %
ClinometaboriteHBO2 24.67 %
MetaboriteHBO224.67 %
Larderellite(NH4)B5O7(OH)2·H2O22.89 %
Ammonioborite(NH4)2[B5O6(OH)4]2·H2O22.05 %
YarzhemskiiteK[B5O7(OH)2]·H2O21.02 %
StrontioboriteSr[B8O11(OH)4]20.68 %
BiringucciteNa2B5O8(OH)·H2O20.55 %
GinoriteCa2B14O20(OH)6·5H2O20.35 %
Geochemistry of Boron
Goldschmidt classification:Lithophile
B3+ solute is a micronutrient on land.
B3+ is essential to nutrition of at least some vertebrates ('essential minerals').
Elemental Abundance for Boron
Crust (CRC Handbook)1.0 x 10-5mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Kaye & Laby)7.0 x 10-6mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Greenwood)9 x 10-6mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Ahrens/Taylor)1.0000 x 10-5mass fraction, kg/kg
Upper Crust (Ahrens/Taylor)1.5000 x 10-5mass fraction, kg/kg
Sea Water (CRC Handbook)4.44 x 10-6mass per volume fraction, kg/L
Sea Water (Kaye & Laby)4.4 x 10-6mass per volume fraction, kg/L
The Sun (Kaye & Laby)1.1 x 10-5atom mole fraction relative to Si=1
Solar System (Kaye & Laby)2.1 x 10-5atom mole fraction relative to Si=1
Solar System (Ahrens)2.12 x 10-5 (10%)atom mole fraction relative to Si=1 (% uncertainty)
Element association of Boron in the Mineral World
This table compares the known valid mineral species listed listed with Boron and the other elements listed based on the official IMA formula. Note that unlike other sections on this page this includes non-essential elements.

The first data column contains the total number of minerals listed with Boron and the element listed for that row.

The second data column lists this number as a percentage of all minerals listed with Boron.

The final data column compares this percentage against the percentage of all minerals that contain the element listed in each row.

Click on a heading to sort.
ElementValid Minerals listed with element and Boron% of B mineralsRelative to % in all minerals
Oxygen306 minerals with B and O98.08%20.80% higher
Hydrogen213 minerals with B and H68.27%22.83% higher
Silicon138 minerals with B and Si44.23%60.68% higher
Calcium125 minerals with B and Ca40.06%60.87% higher
Magnesium99 minerals with B and Mg31.73%138.73% higher
Aluminium93 minerals with B and Al29.81%49.81% higher
Sodium69 minerals with B and Na22.12%18.89% higher
Iron51 minerals with B and Fe16.35%26.85% lower
Fluorine39 minerals with B and F12.50%58.84% higher
Chlorine39 minerals with B and Cl12.50%70.26% higher
Manganese33 minerals with B and Mn10.58%9.29% lower
Potassium21 minerals with B and K6.73%31.80% lower
Yttrium17 minerals with B and Y5.45%133.32% higher
Beryllium15 minerals with B and Be4.81%122.65% higher
Barium15 minerals with B and Ba4.81%3.65% higher
Cerium15 minerals with B and Ce4.81%55.74% higher
Carbon14 minerals with B and C4.49%44.99% lower
Lithium13 minerals with B and Li4.17%108.40% higher
Titanium13 minerals with B and Ti4.17%40.93% lower
Strontium10 minerals with B and Sr3.21%16.50% higher
Sulfur9 minerals with B and S2.88%86.90% lower
Lead9 minerals with B and Pb2.88%73.24% lower
Arsenic8 minerals with B and As2.56%80.26% lower
Phosphorus7 minerals with B and P2.24%81.71% lower
Vanadium6 minerals with B and V1.92%60.06% lower
Chromium6 minerals with B and Cr1.92%2.76% higher
Copper6 minerals with B and Cu1.92%85.79% lower
Caesium6 minerals with B and Cs1.92%275.72% higher
Tin5 minerals with B and Sn1.60%12.11% lower
Lanthanum5 minerals with B and La1.60%17.87% higher
Nitrogen4 minerals with B and N1.28%49.90% lower
Niobium4 minerals with B and Nb1.28%58.47% lower
Zirconium3 minerals with B and Zr0.96%60.19% lower
Antimony3 minerals with B and Sb0.96%83.21% lower
Thorium3 minerals with B and Th0.96%50.29% higher
Molybdenum2 minerals with B and Mo0.64%59.11% lower
Tantalum2 minerals with B and Ta0.64%43.55% lower
Tungsten2 minerals with B and W0.64%29.69% lower
Nickel1 mineral with B and Ni0.32%90.46% lower
Zinc1 mineral with B and Zn0.32%94.26% lower
Rubidium1 mineral with B and Rb0.32%400.96% higher
Neodymium1 mineral with B and Nd0.32%62.19% lower
Uranium1 mineral with B and U0.32%93.82% lower
Periodic Table
1H 2He
3Li 4Be 5B 6C 7N 8O 9F 10Ne
11Na 12Mg 13Al 14Si 15P 16S 17Cl 18Ar
19K 20Ca 21Sc 22Ti 23V 24Cr 25Mn 26Fe 27Co 28Ni 29Cu 30Zn 31Ga 32Ge 33As 34Se 35Br 36Kr
37Rb 38Sr 39Y 40Zr 41Nb 42Mo 43Tc 44Ru 45Rh 46Pd 47Ag 48Cd 49In 50Sn 51Sb 52Te 53I 54Xe
55Cs 56Ba 57La 72Hf 73Ta 74W 75Re 76Os 77Ir 78Pt 79Au 80Hg 81Tl 82Pb 83Bi 84Po 85At 86Rn
87Fr 88Ra 89Ac 104Rd 105Db 106Sg 107Bh 108Hs 109Mt 110Ds 111Rg 112Cn 113Nh 114Fl 115Mc 116Lv 117Ts 118Og
 
58Ce 59Pr 60Nd 61Pm 62Sm 63Eu 64Gd 65Tb 66Dy 67Ho 68Er 69Tm 70Yb 71Lu
90Th 91Pa 92U 93Np 94Pu 95Am 96Cm 97Bk 98Cf 99Es 100Fm 101Md 102No 103Lr
Default Categories CPK Electronegativity Atomic Radius Lowest Oxidation Highest Oxidation Crustal Abundance Goldschmidt Mineral Species Minerals with B Relative Frequency
Beryllium << Boron >> Carbon


Most widespread minerals containing Boron
This list of minerals containing Boron is built from the mindat.org locality database. This is based on the number of localities entered for mineral species and is therefore slanted towards minerals interesting to collectors with less coverage of common rock-forming-minerals so it does not give an undistorted distribution of Boron mineral species. It is more useful when comparing rare species rather than common species.
NameFormulaCrystal SystemMindat Localities
SchorlNaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trigonal3300
DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trigonal916
ElbaiteNa(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trigonal666
DatoliteCaB(SiO4)(OH)Monoclinic600
Axinite-(Fe)Ca2Fe2+Al2BSi4O15OHTriclinic301
DumortieriteAl(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3)Orthorhombic299
UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2OTriclinic194
DanburiteCaB2Si2O8Orthorhombic180
LudwigiteMg2Fe3+(BO3)O2Orthorhombic173
ColemaniteCa[B3O4(OH)3] · H2OMonoclinic158
Photos
05485130017731715557097.jpg
Schorl

Cuasso al Monte, Varese Province, Lombardy, Italy
06157590017866397106896.jpg
Dravite

Malkhan pegmatite field, Krasnyi Chikoy, Krasnochikoysky District, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
05989450017866396963852.jpg
Elbaite

Paprok, Kamdesh District, Nuristan, Afghanistan
00697500017820476171660.jpg
Datolite, etc.

San Martín Mine, San Martín-Sabinas District, San Martín, Sombrerete Municipality, Zacatecas, Mexico
05857380017866397414426.jpg
Schorl

Cuasso al Monte, Varese Province, Lombardy, Italy
02084920017733210535970.jpg
Dravite

Malkhan pegmatite field, Krasnyi Chikoy, Krasnochikoysky District, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
04058540017820476178557.jpg
Elbaite

Paprok, Kamdesh District, Nuristan, Afghanistan
08761780017866376601310.jpg
Datolite, etc.

San Martín Mine, San Martín-Sabinas District, San Martín, Sombrerete Municipality, Zacatecas, Mexico
08652620017364425836608.jpg
Schorl

Cuasso al Monte, Varese Province, Lombardy, Italy
06652580017367859668639.jpg
Dravite

Malkhan pegmatite field, Krasnyi Chikoy, Krasnochikoysky District, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
02209990017271922778898.jpg
Elbaite

Paprok, Kamdesh District, Nuristan, Afghanistan
00697500017820476171660.jpg
Datolite, etc.

San Martín Mine, San Martín-Sabinas District, San Martín, Sombrerete Municipality, Zacatecas, Mexico

Localities with greatest number of different Boron mineral species
1Fuka mine, Fuka, Bitchū, Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan28 B minerals
2Inder B deposit, Inder District, Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan22 B minerals
3Dara-i-Pioz Massif, Districts of Republican Subordination, Tajikistan22 B minerals
4Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Mine (PCS Mine; Potash Corporation of America Mine), Penobsquis, Cardwell Parish, Kings Co., New Brunswick, Canada21 B minerals
5Chelkar salt dome, Aksai Valley, Terekti District, West Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan20 B minerals
6Tincalayu Mine, Antofagasta de la Sierra Department, Catamarca Province, Argentina18 B minerals
7Titovskoe B deposit, Tas-Khayakhtakh Range, Dogdo River Basin, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia18 B minerals
8Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia17 B minerals


Important ores of Boron
NameFormulaCrystal System
BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2OMonoclinic
KerniteNa2[B4O6(OH)2] · 3H2OMonoclinic
UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2OTriclinic
ColemaniteCa[B3O4(OH)3] · H2OMonoclinic
Photos
09422220017864945748907.jpg
Borax

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
01032420017271924269189.jpg
Kernite

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
07926060017271927259466.jpg
Ulexite

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
06705000017271922178896.jpg
Colemanite

Gharah Gol Boron Mine, Qarah Gol, Central District, Mahneshan County, Zanjan Province, Iran
00011570017271953369753.jpg
Borax

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
04819110017864945707832.jpg
Kernite

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
07926060017271927259466.jpg
Ulexite

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
07211240017864945332944.jpg
Colemanite

Gharah Gol Boron Mine, Qarah Gol, Central District, Mahneshan County, Zanjan Province, Iran
04694010017271921697448.jpg
Borax

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
01032420017271924269189.jpg
Kernite

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
07926060017271927259466.jpg
Ulexite

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
06705000017271922178896.jpg
Colemanite

Gharah Gol Boron Mine, Qarah Gol, Central District, Mahneshan County, Zanjan Province, Iran
 
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