Boron, Kern County, California, USA (original) (raw)

Description: Found in saponite covered vesicles in Saddleback Mountain basalt samples originated from the pit decades ago. Associated with octahedral-like dipyramidal calcite and gmelinite-Na.

ⓘ 'Garnet Group'

Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3

ⓘ Garrelsite

Formula: Ba3NaSi2B7O16(OH)4

ⓘ Gerstleyite (TL)

Formula: Na2(Sb,As)8S13 · 2H2O

Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.

ⓘ Gmelinite-Na

Formula: Na4(Si8Al4)O24 · 11H2O

ⓘ 'Gmelinite Subgroup'

Localities:

Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Greigite

Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2S4

Localities:

Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Mudd Mine, West Baker, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Gypsum

Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O

ⓘ Gypsum var. Satin Spar Gypsum

Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O

Description: Occurs poorly developed in the open pit.

ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite

Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O

Colour: Colourless

Description: Occurs as scaly masses and incrustations in clay surrounding the deposit.

ⓘ Halite

Formula: NaCl

Description: Occurs as efflorescences.

ⓘ Harmotome

Formula: Ba2(Si12Al4)O32 · 12H2O

Habit: elongated, twinned

Colour: clear, sometimes milky

Description: Raman suggested it could be merlinoite, but XRD determined otherwise. EDS results: Ba:Ca ratio 5:2, Al:Si ratio 9:23

ⓘ Hectorite

Formula: Na0.3(Mg,Li)3(Si4O10)(F,OH)2

Description: Material has a high Li content.

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe2O3

Description: Occurs in claystone and in basalt float.

ⓘ Heulandite-Na

Formula: (Na,Ca,K)6(Si,Al)36O72 · 22H2O

ⓘ 'Heulandite Subgroup'

Formula: (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O

Localities:

Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Unnamed Pumice quarry [3], West Baker, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Hisingerite

Formula: Fe3+2(Si2O5)(OH)4 · 2H2O

Colour: Black to reddish brown

Description: Occurs as a thin glassy coating on joint-crack surfaces of basalt.

ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'

Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2

Colour: Greenish

Description: Basaltic; elongate crystals in ulexite.

ⓘ Howlite

Formula: Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5

Localities:

Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
California Borate Company property, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Hydroboracite

Formula: CaMg[B3O4(OH)3]2 · 3H2O

Localities:

Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ 'Hypersthene'

Formula: (Mg,Fe)SiO3

Description: Occurs as crystals to 1.5 mm in vesicles of basalt float.

ⓘ Ilmenite

Formula: Fe2+TiO3

Colour: Blackish

Description: Occurs as grains in the siltstone bed.

ⓘ Inderite

Formula: MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O

Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.

Habit: prismatic crystals with square cross sections up to 30cm. Rarely terminated

Description: Occurs abundantly with kurnakovite in the hanging wall of the main Na-borate4 ore body, in a thin, discontinuous zone 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meters) above the ore. Mostly found during the early days of the open pit where a fault zone in the western part of the deposit was uncovered. The Inderite crystals were found growing in the distinctive blue/green/tan mud of the deposit.

ⓘ Inyoite

Formula: Ca(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O

Localities:

Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ 'Jasper'

ⓘ Kaolinite

Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4

ⓘ Kernite

Formula: Na2[B4O6(OH)2] · 3H2O

Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.

ⓘ 'K Feldspar'

Description: Occurs as remnants of euhedral and subhedral grains being replaced by borax in borax crystals and massive borates.

ⓘ Kurnakovite

Formula: MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O

Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.

Description: Kurnakovite has been found at Boron in free standing crystals in excess of 30 cm and in clusters more than 60 cm across. It is typically found associated with the gray green mud found at the deposit and dense fibrous balls of white ulexite. Rarely it is found associated with prismatic crystals of inderite. The crystals are typically white and transparent with inclusions of the gray/green mud of the deposit. Several different crystal habits have been noted. The crystals were found only once during a short period early in the development of the large open pit mine at Boron. In the polluted air of Los Angeles, kurnakovite crystals develop a white patina that can be washed off with water. Kurnakovite is quite heat sensitive, especially the larger crystals and the temperature of the kurnakovite and the water should be allowed to equilibrate before washing the specimen.

ⓘ Lepidocrocite

Formula: γ-Fe3+O(OH)

Colour: Reddish brown

Description: Occurs as a powdery alteration of hypersthene in basalt float in the overburden of the deposit.

ⓘ 'Limonite'

ⓘ Mackinawite

Formula: FeS

ⓘ Magnesite

Formula: MgCO3

Habit: hexagonal, tabular platelet bunches in volcanic rock vesicles, beveled on edges

Colour: clear, milky, sometimes zoned

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4

✪ Mazzite-Na (TL)

Formula: Na8[Al4Si14O36]2 · 30H2O

Type Locality:

Habit: Acicular

Colour: White

ⓘ 'Melnikovite'

Description: Occurs as micro-particles of highly magnetic material disseminated throughout the clay-shale portion of the deposit. Occurs in nodules of kurnakovite and colemanite above the main orebody.

ⓘ Metacinnabar

Formula: HgS

Colour: Black

Description: Occurs as a thin black coating on a specimen of clay.

ⓘ Meyerhofferite

Formula: CaB3O3(OH)5 · H2O

Localities:

ⓘ 'Mica Group'

ⓘ Microcline

Formula: K(AlSi3O8)

ⓘ Mirabilite

Formula: Na2SO4 · 10H2O

Description: Occurs as furry growths in old underground workings; also in the borate beds. Single acicular crystals to 30 cm (12 inches) long.

ⓘ 'Monazite Group'

Formula: REE(PO4)

ⓘ Montmorillonite

Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O

Localities:

Mudd Mine, West Baker, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Mordenite

Formula: (Na2,Ca,K2)4(Al8Si40)O96 · 28H2O

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite

Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2

Description: The second most abundant clay at the deposit.

ⓘ Natrojarosite

Formula: NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6

ⓘ Natrolite

Formula: Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O

Localities:

Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Unnamed Pumice quarry [3], West Baker, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Opal

Formula: SiO2 · nH2O

Localities:

Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Vanuray prospect, West Baker, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

Colour: Brownish to gray, white

Description: Occurs as masses up to 3 cm; some dense, white material, apparently pseudomorphic after ulexite.

ⓘ Orpiment

Formula: As2S3

Localities:

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Pararealgar

Formula: As4S4

ⓘ Phillipsite-Na

Formula: (Na,K,Ca0.5,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] · 12H2O

ⓘ 'Phillipsite Subgroup'

Localities:

Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Unnamed Pumice quarry [3], West Baker, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Phlogopite

Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

ⓘ Probertite (TL)

Formula: NaCa[B5O7(OH)4] · 3H2O

Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.

ⓘ Pseudobrookite

Formula: Fe2TiO5

Habit: Tabular to bladed

Colour: Dark reddish brown

Description: Occurs as crystals to 1 mm long in vesicles of red basalt float.

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS2

Description: Occurs as minute cubes in joint cracks in a dense black basalt underlying the deposit. Also occurs as minute brassy crystals in nodules and geodes of calcite.

ⓘ Pyrrhotite

Formula: Fe1-xS

Localities:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO2

ⓘ Quartz var. Agate

ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony

Formula: SiO2

ⓘ Realgar

Formula: As4S4

Localities:

Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Jenifer Mine, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Baker Mine, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Rhodochrosite

Formula: MnCO3

Localities:

ⓘ Rutile

Formula: TiO2

ⓘ Saponite

Formula: Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O

Localities:

Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Saponite var. Iron-bearing Saponite

Formula: Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O

Localities:

Rio Tinto Borax open pit, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

Colour: green, brownish, black

ⓘ Sassolite

Formula: H3BO3

Localities:

Mudd Mine, West Baker, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
California Borate Company property, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Baker Mine, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

ⓘ Searlesite

Formula: Na(H2BSi2O7)

Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.

ⓘ Sideronatrite

Formula: Na2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · 3H2O

Colour: Pale yellow

Description: Occurs as efflorescent clusters of needle-like crystals to 1.5 mm.

ⓘ Smythite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)

Description: Present as inclusions in colourless analcite crystals in vugs in the Saddleback basalt. Smythite crystals that are not included in another mineral and are therefore exposed to the air are quickly altered to iron oxides and no longer exist as smythite.

ⓘ Stibnite

Formula: Sb2S3

Localities:

Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA
Baker Mine, Rio Tinto Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern County, California, USA

Habit: Acicular

Colour: Black

Description: Needle-like crystals and clusters of shiny material occur throughout the deposit; specifically, it occurs as minute spherulites in kernite and borax.

ⓘ 'Stilbite Subgroup'

Formula: M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O

ⓘ Strontianite

Formula: SrCO3

Colour: Yellowish tan and greenish gray to blackish

Description: Occurs as masses of fibers to 2.5 cm (1 inch).

ⓘ Sulphur

Formula: S8

Colour: Yellow

Description: Occurs as minute crystals in the main orebody.

ⓘ Thénardite

Formula: Na2SO4