Ulexite Mineral Data

Ulexite Mineral Data +

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General Ulexite Information

Chemical Formula:

NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 405.23 gm

Sodium 5.67 % Na 7.65 % Na₂O

Calcium 9.89 % Ca 13.84 % CaO

Boron 13.34 % B 42.95 % B₂O₃

Hydrogen 3.98 % H 35.57 % H₂O

Oxygen 67.12 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

NaCaB₅O₆(OH)₆·5(H₂O)

Environment:

Secondary borate mineral probably derived from alteration of borax under mild heat, pressure and addition of Ca.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1850

Locality:

Iquique, Tarapacá, Chile. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the German chemist, George Ludwig Ulex (1811-1883).

Synonym:

ICSD 100565

PDF 12-419

Ulexite Image

Images:

Ulexite

Comments: Tray of fibrous Ulexite fragments which have been cut and polished perpendicular to the fibers. This shows the fiber-optic "TV stone" effect which transmit images through the fragments.
Location: U.S. Borax Mine, Boron, Kramer District, Kern County, California, USA. Scale: Picture size 10 cm.
© Dave Barthelmy

Ulexite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.6849:1:0.5192

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.809, b = 12.86, c = 6.678, Z = 2; alpha = 90.25°, beta = 109.1°, gamma = 105.1° V = 690.17 Den(Calc)= 1.95

Crystal System:

Triclinic - PinacoidalH-M Symbol ( 1) Space Group: P1

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 12.2(1), 7.75(0.8), 6(0.3),

Crystal Structure:

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Ghose S , Wan C , Clark J R , American Mineralogist , 63 (1978) p.160-171, Ulexite, NaCaB5O6(OH)6*5H2O: Structure refinement, polyanion, configuration, hydrogen bonding, and fiber optics

Physical Properties of Ulexite

Cleavage:

[010] Perfect, [110] Perfect

Color:

Colorless, White.

Density:

1.95 - 1.96, Average = 1.95

Diaphaniety:

Translucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Habit:

Capillary - Very slender and long, like a thread or hair (e.g. millerite).

Habit:

Fibrous - Crystals made up of fibers.

Hardness:

2.5 - Finger Nail

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Chatoyant

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Ulexite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.009 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.012 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2598,KPDmeas= 0.2592,KC= 0.2569

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.49, b=1.51, g=1.52, bire=0.0300, 2V(Calc)=68, 2V(Meas)=73-78. Dispersion none.

Pleochroism (x):

none.

Pleochroism (y):

none.

Pleochroism (z):

none.

Calculated Properties of Ulexite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.01 gm/cc
note: r_Ulexite=1.96 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.027
Boson Index = 0.973

Photoelectric:

PE_Ulexite= 1.54 barns/electron
U=PE_Ulexite x r_electron= 3.08 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Ulexite is Not Radioactive

Ulexite Classification

Dana Class:

26.5.11.1 (26)Hydrated Borates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(26.5)Dana Type

(26.5.11)Dana Group

26.5.11.1 Ulexite NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5(H2O) P1 1

Strunz Class:

V/H.14-10 V - Nitrates, Carbonates and Borates

V/H - Group borates. Planary and tetrahedral groups [B3O5]1- to [B6O10]2-

V/H.14 - Ulexite series

V/H.14-10 Ulexite NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5(H2O) P1 1

Other Ulexite Information

References:

NAME( Sinkankas66) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Sinkankas66)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Ulexite Specimen Label here :

Ulexite

NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5(H2O)
Dana No: 26.5.11.1 Strunz No: V/H.14-10
Locality:

Notes: