Mineral Chemistry

Boron (B )

Atomic Mass 10.81
Atomic Number 5
Name Origins Arabic, buraq
Year Discovered 1808
Discovery Credits L. J. Lissac and L. J. Thenard in Paris, France and Sir Humphrey Davy in London, UK.
Remarks Non-metal with several allotropes. Amorphous boron is a dark powder un-reactive to oxygen, water, acids, and alkalis. Forms metal borides with most metals. Used in borosilicate glass, detergents, and fire retardants. Strong neutron capture ability is put to best use as a moderator for nuclear reactions involving neutrons.

Diagnostic tests: 
Many compounds containing boron tinge the flame test an intense yellowish green. This effect is masked if the mineral contains sodium. The flame test color lasts only an instant and may be confused with the green flame color produced from barium minerals.

In a small quantity of sulfuric acid solution, add 10 drops of methyl alcohol. Stir, and set fire to the mixture. The first flash of green flame confirms the presence of boron. If the green flame color occurs after the first flash of flame, barium or copper is present.
References Emsley, J., 1991; THE ELEMENTS : Sec. Ed., Clarendon Press, Oxford, 251 p.
See Also WebElements, ChemiCool
Naturally Occurring Isotopes
Symbol Isotope Mass Isotope Nuclide Number Isotope Number Natural Abundance Half-life Half-life Units Decay Mode Decay Mode MeV Decay Mode %
B 10.012937 10 5 19.9000%   Stable      
B 11.009305 11 5 80.1000%   Stable      
 

Mineral Species sorted by the element B (Boron )

Click Here for Mineral Species Sorted By Mineral Name
%B Mineral Name Chemical Formula MW
25.57% B Diomignite   Li2B4O7 169.12
24.67% B Metaborite   HBO2 43.82
22.89% B Larderellite   (NH4)B5O6(OH)4 236.11
22.05% B Ammonioborite   (NH4)2B10O16·5(H2O) 490.24
20.68% B Strontioborite   SrB8O11(OH)4 418.12
20.65% B Aristarainite   Na2MgB12O20·8(H2O) 628.08
20.55% B Biringuccite   Na2B5O8(OH)·(H2O) 263.05
20.35% B Ginorite   Ca2B14O23·8(H2O) 743.60
20.33% B Preobrazhenskite   Mg3B11O15(OH)9 584.88
19.30% B Boracite   Mg3B7O13Cl 392.03
19.25% B Halurgite   Mg2[B4O5(OH)4]2·(H2O) 449.16
19.25% B Nobleite   CaB6O9(OH)2·3(H2O) 336.99
19.23% B Nasinite   Na2B5O8(OH)·2(H2O) 281.06
19.13% B Fabianite   CaB3O5(OH) 169.51
19.12% B Aksaite   MgB6O7(OH)6·2(H2O) 339.24
18.92% B Ameghinite   NaB3O3(OH)4 171.45
18.57% B Strontioginorite   (Sr,Ca)2B14O23·8(H2O) 814.92
18.43% B Santite   KB5O6(OH)4·2(H2O) 293.20
18.41% B Studenitsite   NaCa2[B9O14(OH)4]·2(H2O) 528.49
18.32% B Sborgite   NaB5O6(OH)4·3(H2O) 295.11
18.27% B Gowerite   CaB6O10·5(H2O) 355.01
18.20% B Veatchite   Sr2B11O16(OH)5·(H2O) 653.19
18.20% B Veatchite-A   Sr2B11O16(OH)5·(H2O) 653.19
18.20% B Veatchite-p  ! Sr2B11O16(OH)5·(H2O) 653.19
18.20% B Trembathite   (Mg,Fe++)3B7O13Cl 415.69
18.10% B Kaliborite   KHMg2B12O16(OH)10·4(H2O) 716.56
18.07% B Ezcurrite   Na4B10O17·7(H2O) 598.16
17.79% B Rivadavite   Na6MgB24O40·22(H2O) 1,458.00
17.70% B Iquiqueite   K3Na4Mg(Cr++++++O4)B24O39(OH)·12(H2O) 1,466.16
17.48% B Sassolite   H3BO3 61.83
17.29% B IMA1995-020a  ! CaB3O4(OH)3 187.53
17.28% B Admontite   MgB6O10·7(H2O) 375.27
17.26% B Tyretskite   Ca2B5O9(OH)·(H2O) 313.22
17.20% B Calciborite   CaB2O4 125.70
16.88% B Mcallisterite   Mg2B12O14(OH)12·9(H2O) 768.55
16.87% B Tunellite   SrB6O9(OH)2·3(H2O) 384.54
16.52% B Congolite   (Fe++,Mg,Mn)3B7O13Cl 458.00
16.52% B Ericaite   (Fe++,Mg,Mn)3B7O13Cl 458.00
16.30% B Hilgardite   Ca2B5O9Cl·(H2O) 331.67
16.22% B Tuzlaite   NaCaB508(0H)2·3(H2O) 333.17
15.78% B Colemanite   Ca2B6O11·5(H2O) 411.09
15.69% B Hydroboracite   CaMgB6O8(OH)6·3(H2O) 413.33
15.64% B Chambersite   Mn3B7O13Cl 483.93
15.48% B Priceite   Ca2B5O7(OH)5·H2O 349.25
15.39% B Probertite   NaCaB5O7(OH)4·3(H2O) 351.19
15.33% B Johachidolite   CaAlB3O7 211.49
15.29% B Wardsmithite   Ca5MgB24O42·30(H2O) 1,696.57
15.16% B Tincalconite   Na6[B4O5(OH)4]3·8(H2O) 855.86
15.04% B Korzhinskite   CaB2O4·(H2O) 143.71
14.95% B Penobsquisite  ! Ca2Fe++[B9O13(OH)6]Cl·4(H2O) 650.84
14.90% B Kernite   Na2B4O6(OH)2·3(H2O) 290.28
14.67% B Londonite  ! CsAl4Be4(B,Be)12O28 810.52
14.65% B Braitschite-(Ce)   (Ca,Na2)7(Ce,La)2B22O43·7(H2O) 1,623.88
14.51% B Walkerite  ! Ca16(Mg,Li,[])2[B13O17(OH)12]4Cl6·28(H2O) 3,822.48
14.51% B Meyerhofferite   Ca2B6O6(OH)10·2(H2O) 447.12
14.39% B Suanite   Mg2B2O5 150.23
14.27% B Kurgantaite  ! CaSr[B5O9]Cl·(H2O) 378.64
14.27% B Pringleite   Ca9B26O34(OH)24Cl4·13(H2O) 1,969.93
14.27% B Ruitenbergite   Ca9B26O34(OH)24Cl4·13(H2O) 1,969.93
13.81% B Howlite   Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5 391.32
13.44% B Vitimite  ! Ca6B14O19(SO4)(OH)14·5(H2O) 1,125.95
13.37% B Uralborite   CaB2O2(OH)4 161.73
13.37% B Vimsite   CaB2O2(OH)4 161.73
13.34% B Ulexite   NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5(H2O) 405.23
13.29% B Balavinskite  ? Sr2B6O11·4(H2O) 488.15
13.19% B Pinnoite   MgB2O4·3(H2O) 163.97
12.98% B Ekaterinite   Ca2B4O7(Cl,OH)2·2(H2O) 333.11
12.88% B Inderborite   CaMg[B3O3(OH)5]2·6(H2O) 503.40
12.85% B Szaibelyite   MgBO2(OH) 84.12
12.66% B Hungchaoite   MgB4O5(OH)4·7(H2O) 341.68
12.49% B Rhodizite   (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 778.83
12.44% B Nifontovite   Ca3B6O6(OH)12·2(H2O) 521.21
12.12% B Kurchatovite   Ca(Mg,Mn,Fe++)B2O5 178.34
12.11% B Clinokurchatovite   Ca(Mg,Fe++,Mn)B2O5 178.53
11.68% B Inyoite   Ca2B6O6(OH)10·8(H2O) 277.60
11.59% B Tertschite   Ca4B10O19·20(H2O) 932.71
11.59% B Inderite   MgB3O3(OH)5·5(H2O) 279.85
11.59% B Kurnakovite   MgB3O3(OH)5·5(H2O) 279.85
11.58% B Solongoite   Ca2B3O4(OH)4Cl 280.07
11.52% B Hambergite   Be2BO3(OH) 93.84
11.35% B Kotoite   Mg3B2O6 190.53
11.34% B Borax   Na2B4O5(OH)4·8(H2O) 381.37
10.93% B Frolovite   CaB2(OH)8 197.76
10.82% B Parasibirskite  ! Ca2B2O5·(H2O) 199.79
10.82% B Sibirskite   CaHBO3 99.89
10.77% B Fedorovskite   Ca2(Mg,Mn)2B4O7(OH)6 401.36
10.61% B Peprossiite-(Ce)   (Ce,La)(Al3O)2/3B4O10 407.67
10.56% B Jeremejevite   Al6B5O15(F,OH)3 511.93
10.49% B Teruggite   Ca4MgAs2B12O22(OH)12·12(H2O) 1,236.44
10.48% B Volkovskite   KCa4[B5O8(OH)4][B(OH)3]Cl·4(H2O) 618.83
10.31% B Barberiite   (NH4)BF4 104.84
10.02% B Pentahydroborite   CaB2O(OH)6·2(H2O) 215.77
9.85% B Ferruccite   NaBF4 109.79
9.72% B Olshanskyite   Ca2[B3O3(OH)6]OH·3(H2O) 333.68
9.67% B Roweite   Ca2Mn++2B4O7(OH)6 447.31
9.62% B Berborite   Be2(BO3)(OH,F)·(H2O) 112.35
9.42% B Sussexite   MnBO2(OH) 114.75
9.25% B Hexahydroborite   Ca[B(OH)4]2·2(H2O) 233.79
9.24% B Hydrochlorborite   Ca2B4O4(OH)7Cl·7(H2O) 468.00
9.09% B Takedaite   Ca3(BO3)2 237.85
8.94% B Brianroulstonite  ! Ca3[B5O6(OH)6](OH)Cl2·8(H2O) 604.36
8.94% B Okayamalite  ! Ca2B2SiO7 241.86
8.86% B Heidornite   Na2Ca3B5O8(SO4)2Cl(OH)2 609.85
8.79% B Danburite   CaB2(SiO4)2 245.86
8.67% B Bakerite   Ca4B4(BO4)(SiO4)3(OH)3·(H2O) 623.65
8.59% B Malinkoite  ! NaBSiO4 125.88
8.57% B Sinhalite   MgAlBO4 126.09
8.49% B Garrelsite-V   Ba3NaSi2B7O16(OH)4 890.83
8.49% B Garrelsite-VIII   Ba3NaSi2B7O16(OH)4 890.83
7.92% B Borcarite   Ca4MgB4O6(OH)6(CO3)2 545.92
7.86% B Karlite  ! (Mg,Al)6(BO3)3(OH,Cl)4 412.74
7.82% B Nordenskioldine   CaSnB2O6 276.40
7.74% B Satimolite   KNa2Al4(B2O5)3Cl3·13(H2O) 838.41
7.65% B Jimboite   Mn3B2O6 282.43
7.42% B Tusionite   MnSn++++(BO3)2 291.26
7.34% B Warwickite   Mg(Ti,Fe+++,Al)(BO3)O 147.29
7.32% B Pekovite  ! SrB2Si2O8 291.02
7.24% B Avogadrite   (K,Cs)BF4 149.35
7.19% B Yuanfuliite   (Mg,Fe++)(Fe+++,Al,Mg,Ti,Fe++)(BO3)O 150.33
7.02% B Pertsevite  ! Mg2(BO3)F 130.82
6.94% B Aldzhanite  ? CaMgB2O4Cl·7(H2O)(?) 311.56
6.93% B Pseudosinhalite  ! Mg2Al3B2O9(OH) 312.18
6.76% B Datolite   CaBSiO4(OH) 159.98
6.74% B Teepleite   Na2B(OH)4Cl 160.27
6.58% B Sakhaite   Ca3Mg(BO3)2(CO3)·0.36(H2O) 328.65
6.41% B Fluoborite   Mg3(BO3)(F,OH)3 168.72
6.29% B Maleevite  ! BaB2Si2O8 341.91
6.23% B Chelkarite   CaMgB2O4Cl2·7(H2O)(?) 347.01
6.08% B Bandylite   CuB(OH)4Cl 177.84
5.98% B Sulfoborite   Mg3B2(SO4)(OH)8(OH,F)2 361.67
5.94% B Qilianshanite   NaH4(CO3)(BO3)·2(H2O) 181.87
5.91% B Homilite   Ca2(Fe++,Mg)B2Si2O10 365.90
5.85% B Henmilite   Ca2Cu[B(OH)4]2(OH)4 369.41
5.72% B Magnesiohulsite   (Mg,Fe++)2(Mg,Fe+++,Sn++++)O2(BO3) 188.93
5.67% B Boralsilite  ! Al16B6Si2O27 1,144.71
5.61% B Chestermanite   Mg2(Fe+++,Mg,Al,Sb+++++)BO3O2 192.66
5.56% B Gaudefroyite   Ca4Mn+++3-x(BO3)3(CO3)(O,OH)3 582.85
5.56% B Pinakiolite   Mg2Mn+++O2(BO3) 194.36
5.56% B Takeuchiite   Mg2Mn+++O2(BO3) 194.36
5.55% B Fredrikssonite   Mg2(Mn+++,Fe+++)O2(BO3) 194.81
5.54% B Alumino-magnesiohulsite  ! Mg2(Al,Mg,Sn)(BO3)O2 195.24
5.54% B Ludwigite   Mg2Fe+++BO5 195.26
5.42% B Wiserite   Mn4B2O5(OH,Cl)4 398.62
5.35% B Lisitsynite  ! KBSi2O6 202.08
5.30% B Searlesite   NaBSi2O5(OH)2 203.98
5.26% B Azoproite   (Mg,Fe++)2(Fe+++,Ti,Mg)BO5 205.49
5.16% B Orthopinakiolite   (Mg,Mn++)2Mn+++BO5 209.67
5.15% B Schiavinatoite  ! (Nb,Ta)BO4 209.97
4.82% B Cappelenite-(Y)   Ba(Y,Ce)6Si3B6O24F2 1,344.28
4.76% B Carboborite   Ca2Mg(CO3)2B2(OH)8·4(H2O) 454.22
4.75% B Moydite-(Y)   YB(OH)4(CO3) 227.75
4.64% B Hulsite   (Fe++,Mg)2(Fe+++,Sn)O2(BO3) 233.09
4.62% B Behierite   (Ta,Nb)BO4 233.75
4.54% B Blatterite   (Mn++,Mg)35Sb3(Mn+++,Fe+++)9(BO3)16O32 3,807.71
4.54% B Luneburgite   Mg3B2(PO4)2(OH)6·5(H2O) 476.60
4.52% B Jacquesdietrichite  ! Cu2[BO(OH)2](OH)3 238.94
4.40% B Stillwellite-(Ce)   (Ce,La,Ca)BSiO5 245.85
4.39% B Reedmergnerite   NaBSi3O8 246.05
4.37% B Tadzhikite-(Y)  ! Ca4(Y,Ce)2(Ti,Al,Fe+++,[])2[Si4B4O22](OH)2 990.13
4.33% B Tadzhikite-(Ce)   Ca4(Ce,Y)2(Ti,Al,Fe+++,[])2[Si4B4O22](OH)2 998.93
4.29% B Mottanaite-(Ce)  ! Ca4(Ce,Ca)2AlBe2[Si4B4O22]O2 1,007.13
4.20% B Hellandite-(Y)   (Ca,REE)4(Y,Ce)2(Al,[])2[Si4B4O22](OH)2 1,029.47
4.19% B Ciprianiite  ! Ca4[(Th,U)(REE)]2(Al,[])2[Si4B4O22](OH,F)2 1,032.51
4.18% B Vonsenite   Fe++2Fe+++BO5 258.35
4.18% B Canavesite   Mg2(CO3)(HBO3)·5(H2O) 258.51
4.09% B Bonaccordite   Ni2Fe+++BO5 264.03
3.88% B Hellandite-(Ce)  ! (Ca3REE)4Ce2Al[]2[Si4B4O22](OH)2 1,114.02
3.65% B Grandidierite   (Mg,Fe++)Al3(BO4)(SiO4)O 296.03
3.63% B Cahnite   Ca2B(AsO4)(OH)4 297.91
3.54% B Elbaite   Na(Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 916.68
3.53% B Liddicoatite  ! Ca(Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(O,OH,F)4 917.49
3.51% B Rossmanite  ! []LiAl2Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)4 923.75
3.46% B Magnesiofoitite  ! [](Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)4 937.08
3.42% B Ominelite  ! (Fe++,Mg)Al3BSiO9 316.53
3.41% B Wightmanite   Mg5(BO3)O(OH)5·2(H2O) 317.40
3.38% B Dravite   NaMg3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 958.75
3.36% B Olenite  ! NaAl3Al6(BO3)3(Si6O18)(O,OH)4 963.76
3.34% B Uvite   (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe++)3Al5Mg(BO3)3Si6O18(OH,F)4 970.23
3.33% B IMA2000-030  ! CaMg3(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) 973.16
3.27% B Zincowoodwardite-3R  ! [Zn1BxAlx(OH)2][(SO4)x/2·n(H2O)],0.32<x<0.50,n=0.59 109.02
3.22% B Werdingite   (Mg,Fe)2Al14B4Si4O37 1,209.06
3.14% B Foitite  ! []Na<0.5(Fe++,Al)3Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)4 1,031.73
3.09% B Feruvite  ! (Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Ti)3(Al,Mg,Fe)6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 1,047.92
3.08% B Buergerite  ! NaFe+++3Al6(BO3)3Si6O21F 1,052.34
3.08% B Schorl   NaFe++3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 1,053.38
2.97% B Calcybeborosilite-(Y)  * (REE,Ca)2[](B,Be)2(SiO4)2(OH,O)2 437.09
2.92% B Vanadiumdravite  ! NaMg3V6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)4 1,109.10
2.91% B Chromdravite  ! NaMg3(Cr,Fe+++)6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 1,114.61
2.90% B Seamanite   Mn3(PO4)B(OH)6 372.64
2.84% B Vistepite   Mn++4Sn++++B2(SiO4)4(OH)2 762.43
2.82% B Boromuscovite   KAl2(Si3B)O10(OH,F)2 383.13
2.80% B Povondraite  ! (Na,K)(Fe+++,Fe++)3(Fe,Mg,Al)6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 1,156.50
2.72% B Tienshanite   BaNa2MnTiB2Si6O20 796.25
2.67% B Zincowoodwardite-1T  ! [Zn1BxAlx(OH)2][(SO4)x/2·n(H2O)],x=0.33,n.0.96 121.50
2.66% B Kapitsaite-(Y)  ! (Ba,K,Pb,Na)4(Y,Ca,REE)2[Si8B2(B,Si)2O28F] 1,419.80
2.65% B Shabynite   Mg5(BO3)Cl2(OH)5·4(H2O) 408.34
2.21% B Harkerite   Ca24Mg8Al2(SiO4)8(BO3)6(CO3)10·2(H2O) 2,935.91
2.11% B Manandonite   Li2Al4[(Si2AlB)O10](OH)8 511.82
2.01% B Magnesio-axinite   Ca2MgAl2BO3Si4O12(OH) 538.57
1.95% B Painite   CaZrB[Al9O18] 586.42
1.95% B Leucosphenite   Na4BaTi2O2[B2Si10O28] 1,107.50
1.90% B Manganaxinite   Ca2Mn++Al2BO3Si4O12(OH) 569.21
1.90% B Dumortierite   Al6.5-7(BO3)(SiO4)3(O,OH)3 569.73
1.90% B Ferroaxinite   Ca2Fe++Al2BO3Si4O12(OH) 570.12
1.89% B Magnesiodumortierite   (Mg,Ti,[])<1(Al,Mg)2Al4Si3O18-y(OH)yB=2-3 572.14
1.89% B Tinzenite   (Ca,Mn,Fe)3Al2BO3Si4O12(OH) 572.45
1.69% B Vicanite-(Ce)   (Ca,Ce,La,Th)15As+++++(As+++0.5,Na0.5)Fe+++Si6B4O40F7 2,554.77
1.63% B Oyelite   Ca10B2Si8O29·12(H2O) 1,327.25
1.59% B Holtite   Al6(Al,Ta)(BO3)[(SiO4,SbO4,AsO4)]3(O,OH)3 2,589.58
1.56% B Taramellite   Ba4(Fe+++,Ti,Fe++,Mg)4(B2Si8O27)O2Clx(x=0to1) 1,525.66
1.53% B Kalborsite   K6Al4Si6BO20(OH)4Cl 989.63
1.48% B Buryatite  ! Ca3(Si,Fe+++,Al)[SO4][B(OH)4](OH,O)6·12(H2O) 730.42
1.44% B Nagashimalite   Ba4(V+++,Ti)4Si8B2O27Cl(O,OH)2 1,496.26
1.29% B Borocookeite  ! Li(1+3x)Al(4-x)(BSi3)O10(OH,F)8[x=0-0.33] 502.73
1.20% B Melanocerite-(Ce)   (Ce,Th,Ca)5(Si,B)3O12(OH,F)·n(H2O)(?) 903.06
1.19% B Okanoganite-(Y)   (Na,Ca)3(Y,Ce)12Si6B2O27F14 2,660.88
1.18% B Poudretteite   KNa2B3Si12O30 912.90
1.12% B Titantaramellite   Ba4(Ti,Fe+++,Fe++,Mg)4(B2Si8O27)O2ClxX=0TO1,withTi>Fe 1,442.84
1.09% B Tritomite-(Y)   (Y,Ca,La,Fe++)5(Si,B,Al)3(O,OH,F)13(?) 693.60
1.01% B Bobtraillite  ! Na15Sr12Zr14Si42B6O138(OH)6·12(H2O) 6,444.02
0.96% B Wiluite  ! Ca19(Al,Mg,Fe,Ti)13(B,Al,[])5Si18O68(O,OH)10 2,924.83
0.92% B Serendibite   Ca2(Mg,Al)6(Si,Al,B)6O20 706.15
0.88% B Charlesite   Ca6(Al,Si)2(SO4)2B(OH)4(OH,O)12·26(H2O) 1,234.40
0.86% B Prismatine  ! ([],Fe,Mg)(Mg,Al,Fe)5Al4Si2(Si,Al)2(B,Si,Al)(O,OH,F)22 755.83
0.86% B Wawayandaite   Ca12Mn4B2Be18Si12O46(OH,Cl)30[Ortho] 2,523.08
0.85% B Sturmanite   Ca6(Fe+++,Al,Mn++)2(SO4)2[B(OH)4](OH)12·25(H2O) 1,265.59
0.81% B Hyalotekite   (Ba,Pb,Ca,K)6(B,Si,Al)2(Si,Be)10O28(F,Cl) 1,595.98
0.70% B IMA2003-019  ! Na6Sr12Ba2Zr13Si39B4O123(OH)6·20(H2O) 6,218.79
0.69% B Tritomite-(Ce)   (Ce,La,Ca,Y,Th)5(Si,B)3(O,OH,F)13 787.79
0.68% B Martinite  ! (Na,Ca)11Ca4(Si,S,B)14B2O40F2·4(H2O) 1,598.38
0.50% B Kornerupine   (Mg,Fe++)4(Al,Fe+++)6(SiO4,BO4)5(O,OH)2 649.39

(* - Mineral Name Is Not IMA Approved)

(! - New Dana classification added or changed from Danas New Mineralogy)

(? - IMA Discredited Mineral Species Name)

There are 231 minerals with B in the Mineralogy Database.

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