Inyoite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Inyoite is named for Inyo County, California, USA, where the first specimens were collected.

Discovered in 1914 or 1916;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

CaB₃O₃(OH)₅ • 4(H₂O)

Hydrated Calcium Borate Hydroxide

Molecular Weight:

277.60 gm

Composition:

Calcium

14.44 %

Ca

20.20 %

CaO

Boron

11.68 %

B

37.62 %

B₂O₃

Hydrogen

4.72 %

H

42.18 %

H₂O

Oxygen

69.16 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Borates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/H.06-50

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

6.CA.35

6 : BORATES
C : Triborates
A : Neso-triborates

Related to:

Inyoite Group.

Members of Group:

Inyoite Group: Inderborite, Inderite, Inyoite, Kurnakovite, Meyerhofferite, Solongoite

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

ICSD 22196, PDF 37-1459

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Typically as crystals, short prismatic along [001], tabular on {001}, exhibiting prominent {110} and {001} and a dozen other minor forms, to 2.5 cm; in cockscomb aggregates of pseudorhombohedral crystals; also coarse spherulitic, granular.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Good on {001}, Distinct on {010}

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

2.0

Density:

1.875 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Soluble in hot water and dilute acids

Optical Properties

Color:

Colorless, White upon dehydration, Pinkish White with impurities

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent upon dehydration

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.490 - 1.520  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.0250

Dispersion:

Relatively Weakt; r < v

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Along fractures and nodular in sedimentary borate deposits; may be authigenic in playa sediments.

Common Associations:

Colemanite, Gypsum, Hydroboracite, Meyerhofferite, Priceite, Ulexite

Common Impurities:

None

Type Locality:

Mount Blanco mine, Black Mts, Furnace Creek District, Death Valley, Inyo County, California, USA

Year Discovered:

1914 or 1916

View mineral photos:

Inyoite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Inyoite, like other borates, is a complex mineral that is found in playa lakes and other evaporite deposits. It is rarely available as a faceted gem. Inyoite is one of those unusual gems that are water soluble.

Distribution: In the USA, in California, from an adit on Mount Blanco, Furnace Creek district, Death Valley, Inyo Co., and in the Kramer borate deposit, Boron, Kern Co. From Hillsborough and Wentworth, New Brunswick, Canada. In large amounts in the Inder boron deposit, Kazakhstan. From many deposits in the Bigadi¸c borate district, Balikesir Province, Turkey. In Argentina, from the Loma Blanca deposit, eight km southwest of Coranzul´i, Jujuy Province; in the Tincalayu borax deposit, Salar del Hombre Muerto, and at the Monte Azul mine, south of Sijes, Salta Province. From Laguna Salinas, about 65 km east of Arequipa, Arequipa Province, Peru.
 

 
Inyoite gems for sale:

We have not photographed our Inyoite gems. Please check back soon.