Colemanite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
About ColemaniteHide
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Formula:
Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2O
Colour:
Colourless, white, yellowish, grey; colourless in transitted light
Lustre:
Adamantine, Vitreous
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1883 in honor of William Tell Coleman (29 February 1824, Cynthiana, Kentucky, USA - 22 November 1893, San Fransico, California, USA), a founder of the California borax industry and owner of the mine where the mineral was first found.
The fluorescence observed for Turkish specimens may come from As3+ and/or As5+, that were found to be present in the amount up to 125 ppm (Helvacı et al, 2017).
Unique IdentifiersHide
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Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1108:8
995a0912-6e1e-44ca-ba40-55f6bf6f925a
IMA Classification of ColemaniteHide
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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
CaB3O4(OH)3 · H2O
Classification of ColemaniteHide
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6.CB.10
6 : BORATES
C : Triborates
B : Ino-triborates
26.3.5.1
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : Triborates
9.3.14
9 : Borates
3 : Borates of Ca and Sr
Mineral SymbolsHide
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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Cole | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of ColemaniteHide
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Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white, yellowish, grey; colourless in transitted light
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010} perfect; on {001} distinct.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
2.423(5) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.422 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of ColemaniteHide
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RI values:
_n_α = 1.586 _n_β = 1.592 _n_γ = 1.614
2V:
Measured: 55° to 56°, Calculated: 56°
δ = 0.028
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Dispersion:
relatively weak r > v
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Y ∧ c = -6°; Z ∧ c = 84°.
Chemistry of ColemaniteHide
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Mindat Formula:
Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2O
Crystallography of ColemaniteHide
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Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.712(2) Å, b = 11.247(3) Å, c = 6.091(1) Å
β = 110.12°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.775 : 1 : 0.542
Unit Cell V:
560.40 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Crystals commonly short prismatic [001] with large (110), large to small (001) and complex terminations; pseudo-rhombohedral with large (110) and (301); pseudo-octahedral with large (221) and (011). Massive, cleavable to granular and compact.
Crystallographic forms of ColemaniteHide
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Crystal Atlas:
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Crystal StructureHide
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| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005295 | Colemanite | Burns P C, Hawthorne F C (1993) Hydrogen bonding in colemanite: An X-ray and structure-energy study The Canadian Mineralogist 31 297-304 |  |
1993 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.13 Å | (100) |
| 5.64 Å | (50) |
| 3.85 Å | (50) |
| 2.550 Å | (50) |
| 2.010 Å | (50) |
| 4.00 Å | (36) |
| 3.29 Å | (36) |
Comments:
Twenty Mule Team Canyon, Death Valley, USA.
Geological EnvironmentHide
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Geological Setting:
Borate deposits formed in arid alkalai lacustrine environments.
Type Occurrence of ColemaniteHide
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General Appearance of Type Material:
Like semi-crystalline calcite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No defined type material.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Evaporite borate deposit.
Synonyms of ColemaniteHide
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Other Language Names for ColemaniteHide
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Common AssociatesHide
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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
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Fluorescence of ColemaniteHide
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Bright pale yellow fluorescence, may phosphoresce pale green.
Other InformationHide
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IR Spectrum:
Boron Open Pit material, [cm-1]: 3608, 3525, 3245sw, 1675sh, 1590sh, 1460sh, 1363s, 1330s, 1282, 1229, 1154, 1117, 1065sh, 1044s, 935s, 893s, 865sh, 813, 758, 732, 695sh, 669, 629, 603w, 578, 546w, 513, 495w, 422
Electrical:
Pyroelectric and piezoelectric at very low temperatures.
Thermal Behaviour:
Before the blowpipe it exfoliates, decrepitates violently, and melts imperfectly.
Notes:
Soluble in hot HCl, with the separation of boric acid upon cooling. Very slightly soluble in water (1 part in 1,100 at 20°-25°).
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
Ore of boron.
Colemanite in petrologyHide
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An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for ColemaniteHide
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References for ColemaniteHide
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Reference List:
Lin, J., Pan, Y., Chen, N., Mao, M., Li, R., Feng, R. (2011) Arsenic Incorporation in Colemanite from Borate Deposits: Data from Icp-Ms, -Sxrf, Xafs and Epr Analyses. The Canadian Mineralogist, 49 (3) 809-822 doi:10.3749/canmin.49.3.809
Frost, Ray L., Xi, Yunfei, Scholz, Ricardo, Belotti, Fernanda Maria, Cândido Filho, Mauro (2013) Infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterization of the borate mineral colemanite – CaB3O4(OH)3·H2O – implications for the molecular structure. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1037. 23-28 doi:10.1016/j.molstruc.2012.11.047
Localities for ColemaniteHide
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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Locality ListHide
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- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 
- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.