Iquiqueite
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About Iquiqueite
Formula:
K3Na4Mg(CrO4)B24O39(OH) · 12H2O
Colour:
Bright yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.05
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named for the city of Iquique (pronounced ee-KEE-kay) in 2016. It was a major historic port for nitrate shipments from Tarapacá, Chile from the 1830s until the 1930s.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Iquiqueite.
Classification of Iquiqueite
Approved
Approval Year:
1984
First Published:
1986
Approval History:
IMA1984-019
6/F.03-10
6.H0.20
6 : BORATES
H : Unclassified borates
0 :
6 : BORATES
H : Unclassified borates
0 :
27.1.8.1
27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous
27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous
9.2.17
9 : Borates
2 : Borates of Be and Mg
9 : Borates
2 : Borates of Be and Mg
Physical Properties of Iquiqueite
Vitreous
Colour:
Bright yellow
Streak:
Pale yellow to yellow
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
(0001)
(0001)
Density:
2.05 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Iquiqueite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.502 nε = 1.447
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.055

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
Chemical Properties of Iquiqueite
Formula:
K3Na4Mg(CrO4)B24O39(OH) · 12H2O
Crystallography of Iquiqueite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.63 Å, c = 30.15 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.592
Unit Cell V:
3,531.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Type Occurrence of Iquiqueite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Platelets singly or as vermiform aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 163774.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Nitrate fields
Reference:
Ericksen, G.E., Mrose, M.E., Marinenko, J.W., McGee, J.J. (1986) Mineralogical studies of the nitrate deposits of Chile. V. Iquiqueite, Na4K3Mg(CrO4)B24O39(OH).12H2O, a new saline mineral. American Mineralogist: 71: 830-836.
Synonyms of Iquiqueite
Other Language Names for Iquiqueite
German:Iquiqueit
Spanish:Iquiqueita
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
6.H0.10 | Braitschite-(Ce) | (Ca,Na2)7(Ce,La)2B22O43 · 7H2O | Hex. |
6.H0.15 | Satimolite | KNa2(Al5Mg2)[B12O18(OH)12](OH)6Cl4·4H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
6.H0.25 | Wardsmithite | Ca5Mg[B4O7]6 · 30H2O | Hex. |
6.H0.35 | Halurgite | Mg2[B4O7]2 · 5H2O | Mon. |
6.H0.40 | Ekaterinite | Ca2(B4O7)(Cl,OH)2 · 2H2O | Hex. |
6.H0.45 | Vitimite | Ca6[(OH)14|SO4|B14O19] · 5H2O | Mon. |
6.H0.50 | Canavesite | Mg2(HBO3)(CO3) · 5H2O | Mon. |
6.H0.55 | Qilianshanite | NaHCO3 · H3BO3 · 2H2O | Mon. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
9.2.1 | Hambergite | Be2(BO3)(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca |
9.2.2 | Suanite | Mg2[B2O5] | Mon. |
9.2.3 | Kotoite | Mg3[BO3]2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm |
9.2.4 | Szaibélyite | MgBO2(OH) | Mon. |
9.2.5 | Preobrazhenskite | Mg3B11O15(OH)9 | Orth. |
9.2.6 | Aksaite | Mg[B6O7(OH)6] · 2H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca |
9.2.7 | Wightmanite | Mg5(BO3)O(OH)5 · 2H2O | Mon. |
9.2.8 | Pinnoite | Mg[B2O(OH)6] | Tet. 4/m : P42/m |
9.2.9 | Kurnakovite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
9.2.10 | Halurgite | Mg2[B4O7]2 · 5H2O | Mon. |
9.2.11 | Inderite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
9.2.12 | Hungchaoite | Mg(B4O7) · 9H2O | Tric. 1 |
9.2.13 | Admontite | MgB6O10 · 7H2O | Mon. |
9.2.14 | Mcallisterite | Mg2[B6O7(OH)6]2 · 9H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
9.2.15 | Rivadavite | Na6Mg[B6O7(OH)6]4 · 10H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
9.2.16 | Kaliborite | KMg2H[B6O8(OH)5]2(H2O)4 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
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.
References for Iquiqueite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Ericksen, G.E., Mrose, M.E., Marinenko, J.W., McGee, J.J. (1986) Mineralogical studies of the nitrate deposits of Chile. V. Iquiqueite, Na4K3Mg(CrO4)B24O39(OH).12H2O, a new saline mineral. American Mineralogist: 71: 830-836.
Grew, E.S., Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).
Internet Links for Iquiqueite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2039.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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Localities for Iquiqueite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Chile | |
| RRUFF Specimen ID: R060822 |
| Amer.Min.(1986) 71, 830-836 |
Salar de Miraje, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile