General Information:
Chemical Formula:
Na2B4O6(OH)2·3(H2O)
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 290.28 gm)
Sodium 15.84 % Na
Boron 14.90 % B
Hydrogen 3.13 % H
Oxygen 66.14 % O
Empirical Formula:
Na2(B)4O6(OH)3·3(H2O)
Environment:
Continental sedimentary basins.
Locality:
Boron, Kern County, California, the county that contains the fabulous borate deposits at Kramer.
Name Origin:
Named after it's locality.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
[100] Perfect, [001] Perfect, [201] Good
Color:
colorless or white.
Density:
1.9 - 1.92, Average = 1.91
Diaphaniety:
Transparent to translucent
Habits:
Crystalline - Coarse - Occurs as well-formed coarse sized crystals., Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals., Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.
Hardness:
2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite
Luminescence:
None.
Luster:
Vitreous - Pearly
Streak:
white
More details...