Sassolite
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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.
Classification of Sassolite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
4/F.01-10
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
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
Chemical Properties of Sassolite
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.
Type Occurrence of Sassolite
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 Kremersite | (NH4,K)2[Fe3+Cl5(H2O)] |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
6.AA.15 | Nordenskiöldine | CaSn4+[BO3]2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
6.AA.15 | Tusionite | Mn2+Sn4+[BO3]2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
6.AA.35 | Jimboite | (Mn2+,Mg)3[BO3]2 | Orth. |
6.AA.35 | Kotoite | Mg3[BO3]2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm |
6.AA.40 | Takedaite | Ca3[BO3]2 | Trig. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
9.1.2 | Metaborite | HBO2 | Iso. |
9.1.3 | Diomignite | Li2[B4O7] | Tet. |
9.1.4 | Biringuccite | Na2B5O8(OH) · H2O | Mon. |
9.1.5 | Nasinite | Na2[B5O8(OH)] · 2H2O | Orth. |
9.1.6 | Kernite | Na2[B4O6(OH)2] · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
9.1.7 | Ezcurrite | Na4B10O17 · 7H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
9.1.8 | Tincalconite | Na2(B4O7) · 5H2O | Trig. 3 2 : R3 2 |
9.1.9 | Borax | Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
9.1.10 | Ameghinite | Na(H4B3O7) | Mon. |
9.1.11 | Sborgite | Na[B5O6(OH)4] · 3H2O | Mon. |
9.1.12 | Aristarainite | Na2MgB12O20 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
9.1.13 | Santite | K[B5O6(OH)4] · 2H2O | Orth. |
9.1.14 | Larderellite | (NH4)B5O7(OH)2 · H2O | Mon. |
9.1.15 | Ammonioborite | (NH4)2[B5O6(OH)4]2 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
9.1.16 | Rhodizite | (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 | Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m |
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 Sassolite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Hofer, U.F. (1778) Memorie sopra il sale sedativo naturale di Toscana e del borace che da quello si compone. Firenze.
Mascagni, P. (1779) Dei lagoni del Senese e del Volterrano. Commentari. Siena.
Klaproth, M.H. (1802) Untersuchung des Sassolins, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Dritter Band, Rottmann Berlin: 95-101.
Karsten, D.L.G. (1808) Mineralogische Tabellen mit Rücksicht auf die neuesten Entdeckungen ausgearbeitet und mit erläuternden Anmerkungen versehen. H. A. Rottmann, Ed., Berlin: 105 pp. [sassolite at page 40].
Haushofer (1884) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 9: 77.
Zachariasen (1934) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 88: 150.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 662-663.
Zachariasen, W.H. (1954) The precise structure of orthoboric acid. Acta Crystallographica: 7: 305-310.
Smith, R.L. (1958) Some new occurrences of sassolite in the United States. American Mineralogist: 43: 1204-1205.
Grew, E.S., Anovitz, L. M. (eds) (2002) Boron: Mineralogy, Petrology, and Geochemistry. Reviews in Mineralogy: 33.
Internet Links for Sassolite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3540.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Localities for Sassolite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Australian Jour.Min. v.6, no. 1 |
Chile | |
| TESIS PARA OPTAR AL GRADO DE MAGÍSTER EN CIENCIAS, MENCIÓN GEOLOGÍA MEMORIA PARA OPTAR AL TÍTULO DE GEÓLOGO CONSTANZA BEATRIZ NICOLAU DEL ROURE EYLERTS, 2013 |
Inostroza, M., Aguilera, F., Menzies, A., Layana, S., González, C., Ureta, G., ... & Tagle, R. (2020). Deposition of metals and metalloids in the fumarolic fields of Guallatiri and Lastarria volcanoes, northern Chile. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 393, 106803. | |
| Inostroza, M., Aguilera, F., Menzies, A., Layana, S., González, C., Ureta, G., ... & Tagle, R. (2020). Deposition of metals and metalloids in the fumarolic fields of Guallatiri and Lastarria volcanoes, northern Chile. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 393, 106803. |
Germany | |
| Sindern, S., Warnsloh, J. M., Witzke, T., Havenith, V., Neef, R. & Etoundi, Y. (2005): Mineralogy and geochemistry of vents formed on the burning coal mining waste dump Anna I, Alsdorf, Germany. Eur. J. Mineral. 17, Beih. 1, 130; Witzke, T., de Wit, F., Kolitsch, U. and Blaß, G. (2015): Mineralogy of the Burning Anna I Coal Mine Dump, Alsdorf, Germany. Chapter 7, pp. 203-240, in: Stracher, G. B., Prakash, A. and Sokol, E. V.: Coal and Peat Fires: A Global Perspective, Volume 3: Case Studies - Coal Fires, Elsevier, 786 pp. |
India | |
Walter Schumann (2008) Minerals of the World: Second Edition | |
Italy | |
| Scacchi, A. (1849): Memorie geologiche sulla Campania. Memoria III. Esame delle sustanze che si formato presso i fumaroli della regione flegrea. Rendiconti della Reale Accademia della Scienze di Napoli. |
- Russo, M., Campostrini, I., Demartin, F. (2017): I minerali di origine fumarolica dei Campi Flegrei: Solfatara di Pozzuoli (Napoli) e dintorni. Micro, 15, 122-192. | |
| Russo, M., 2006: I minerali di formazione fumarolica della grande eruzione vesuviana del 1906 |
Russo, M., Punzo, I. (2004): I minerali del Somma-Vesuvio, AMI | |
Pelloux, A. (1927) The minerals of Vesuvius. American Mineralogist, 12, 14–21; Russo, M., and Punzo, I. (2004) I Minerali del Somma-Vesuvio. AMI Associazione Micro-mineralogica Italiana, Tipografia Fantigrafica s.r.l., Cremona, 320 pp. | |
| HOLLAND, 1813. Jervis, G. (1881): I tesori sotterranei dell'Italia. Vol. 3: Regioni delle Isole. Sardegna e Sicilia. Addenda ai precedenti volumi. Loescher, Torino, XXII+539 pp.; Garavelli, A., Laviano, R., Vurro, F. (1997): Sublimate deposition from hydrothermal fluids at the Fossa Crater - Vulcano, Italy. European Journal of Mineralogy, 9, 2, 423-432. |
| HOLLAND, 1813. |
| American Mineralogist (1957) 42, 56 |
| Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 366; S. Merlino, F. Sartori: Can. Mineral. 27:159-165 (1970) |
Japan | |
| Okamoto collection (curated at the Geological Survey museum, Japan) |
| Okano, T. (1962) Sassolite from Iwo-zima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Journal of the Japanese Association of Mineralogists, Petrologists and Economic Geologists, 47, 188-189. |
| Okano, T. (1962) Sassolite from Iwo-zima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Journal of the Japanese Association of Mineralogists, Petrologists and Economic Geologists, 47, 188-189. |
Mozambique | |
| Thomas, R., Davidson, P. (2010): Hambergite-rich melt inclusions in morganite crystals from the Muiane pegmatite, Mozambique and some remarks on the paragenesis of hambergite. - Mineralogy and Petrology, 100, 3-4, 227-23; Thomas, R., & Davidson, P. (2010). Hambergite-rich melt inclusions in morganite crystals from the Muiane pegmatite, Mozambique and some remarks on the paragenesis of hambergite. Mineralogy and Petrology, 100(3-4), 227-239. |
Nicaragua | |
| Quisefit, J.P., Toutain, J.P., Bergametti, G., Javoy, M., Cheynet, B., Person, A. (1989): Evolution versus cooling of gaseous volcanic emissions from Momotombo Volcano, Nicaragua: Thermochemical model and observations. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta: 53: 2591-2608 |
Russia | |
| [Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p163-180]; Okrugin, V. M. (2004). Miocene to Quaternary center volcanic, hydrothermal and ore-forming activity in the Southern Kamchatka. In Metallogeny of the Pacific Northwest (Russian Far East)-Tectonics, Magmatism and Metallogeny of Active Continental Margin, Interim IAGOD Conference, Excursion Guidebook, Dalnauka, Vladivostok, 2004 (pp. 147-176). |
[Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p.163-180] | |
| Shevko, E. P., Bortnikova, S. B., Abrosimova, N. A., Kamenetsky, V. S., Bortnikova, S. P., Panin, G. L., & Zelenski, M. (2018). Trace Elements and Minerals in Fumarolic Sulfur: The Case of Ebeko Volcano, Kuriles. Geofluids, 2018. |
| Thomas, R., Davidson, P., & Badanina, E. (2009). A melt and fluid inclusion assemblage in beryl from pegmatite in the Orlovka amazonite granite, East Transbaikalia, Russia: implications for pegmatite-forming melt systems. Mineralogy and Petrology, 96(3-4), 129-140. |
Tajikistan | |
| Thomas, R., Davidson, P. (2010): Hambergite-rich melt inclusions in morganite crystals from the Muiane pegmatite, Mozambique and some remarks on the paragenesis of hambergite. - Mineralogy and Petrology, 100, 3-4, 227-23 |
USA | |
| Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238, 254. |
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. | |
| RRUFF Specimen R060496 - http://rruff.info/sassolite/names/asc/R060496 |
| Allen, Robert D. & Henry C. Kramer (1957), Ginorite and sassolite from Death Valley, California, American Mineralogist: 42: 56-61; Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister & H. Almond (1959), Gowerite, a new hydrous calcium borate from Death Valley, California: American Mineralogist: 44: 913; Schaller, Waldemar Theodore, et al (1965), American Mineralogist: 65: 629-640; McAllister, James Franklin (1970) Geology of the Furnace Creek borate area, Death Valley, Inyo County, California. California Division of Mines and Geology Map Sheet 14, 9 pp.; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. |
Am Min 64:3-4 pp 369-375; Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister, and G.D. Eberlein (1979) New data on hungchaoite, the second world occurrence, Death Valley region, California. American Mineralogist: 64: 369-375. | |
| Cal Div of Mines & Geology "Mineral Information Service" V. 22 N. 10 Oct 1969 |
Smith, George Irving, Hy Almond, & D.L. Sawyer, Jr. (1958), Sassolite from the Kramer borate district, California: American Mineralogist: 43: 1070; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 327, 333; Morgan, V. and Erd, R.C. (1969) Minerals of the Kramer borate district, California California Division of Mines and Geology Mineral Information Service: 22: 166; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. | |
Smith, George Irving, Hy Almond, & D.L. Sawyer, Jr. (1958), Sassolite from the Kramer borate district, California: American Mineralogist: 43: 1070; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 327; Morgan, V. and Erd, R.C. (1969) Minerals of the Kramer borate district, California California Division of Mines and Geology Mineral Information Service: 22: 166; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. | |
Donald E. Garrett (1998) Borates: Handbook of Deposits, Processing, Properties, and Use. Academic Press | |
| |
| Veatch, John Allen (1867), Discovery of borax in California, in Browne and Taylor, Mineral resources of the states and territories west of the Mississippi: 180; Bailey, Gilbert E. (1902), The saline deposits of California: California Mining Bureau Bulletin 24: 54; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 238. |
| |
| Smith, Robert Leland (1958), Some new occurrences of sassolite in the United States: American Mineralogist: 43: 1204; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 239; Dunning, G. S. & Cooper, J. F. (1993): History and minerals of The Geysers Sonoma County, California. Mineralogical Record: 24(5): 339-352. |
| Bailey, Gilbert E. (1902), The saline deposits of California: California Mining Bureau Bulletin 24: 69; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 239. |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
Vietnam | |
| Le Thi-Thu Huong (2017): Gem-quality danburite from the Luc Yen mining area, northern Viet Nam. Talk given on 9 June 2017 at Institute for Mineralogy and Crystallography, University of Vienna.; Le Thi-Thu Huong, Kurt Krenn, Christoph Hauzenberger (2017): Sassolite- and CO2-H2O-bearing fluid inclusions in yellow danburite from Luc Yen, Vietnam. Journal of Gemmology, 35, 544-550; KRENN, K. and HUONG, L.T.T. (2019) Fluid characteristics from shallow magmatic environments: A contribution to danburite bearing Luc Yen pegmatites, northern Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Earth Science, 41, 1-9. doi: 10.15625/0866-7187/41/1/13541. |
La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Lipari, Eolie Islands, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy