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Inderborite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  CaMgB₆O₆(OH)₁₀·6(H₂O)  [Hydrated Calcium Magnesium Borate]

Discovered in 1940;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Inderborite is named for the locality that produced the first specimens, the Inder deposit, Kazakhstan, and boron, an essential chemical component.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Borates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/H.06-30

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

6.CA.25

6 : BORATES
C : Triborates
A : Neso-triborates

Related to:

Kurnakovite - Solongoite Series

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

As well-formed prismatic crystals, to 10 cm, with a dozen forms noted; coarsely crystalline aggregates.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[100] Good

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

3.5

Density:

1.93 - 2.00 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Slowly soluble in cold water. Rapidly soluble in hot HCl.

Optical Properties

Color:

Colorless to White

Transparency:

Transparent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.482 - 1.540  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.0480

Dispersion:

None

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

With other borates in the caprock of a salt diapir (Inder deposit, Kazakhstan); in lacustrine borate deposits (Sarikaya, Turkey).

Common Associations:

Colemanite, Inyoite, Szaibélyite, Ulexite (Inder deposit, Kazakhstan)

Type Locality:

Deposit No. 6, Inder B deposit and salt dome, Atyrau (Gur'yev), Atyrau Oblysy (Atyrau Oblast'), Kazakhstan

Year Discovered:

1940

View mineral photos:

Inderborite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Inderborite is a very rare borate mineral that is rarely available as a faceted gem. It was discovered in 1940 at the Inder borate deposit, Kazakhstan. It is one of those unusual gems that are water soluble.

The main source of Inderborite crystals (and the Type Locality) is from the Inder borate deposit, Kazakhstan. Other locations include Sarikaya, near Kirka, Eskiçehir Province, Turkey; the Günevi mine, Bigadiç borate district, Balikesir Province, Turkey; the Furnace Creek district, Death Valley, Inyo County, California, USA; the Santa Rosa mine, Sijes district, Salta Province, Argentina.
 

  
Inderborite gems for sale:

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