Ulexite (original) (raw)

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

About UlexiteHide

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Formula:

NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O

Colour:

Colourless, white, grey with included clays.

Name:

Named after Georg Ludwig Ulex (8 October 1811, Neuhaus, Germany - 25 March 1883, Altona, German Empire), German chemist and politician, who first correctly analyzed the species.

A rare sodium-calcium borate.

Most specimens of ulexite are fibrous in nature. Most of the time, the fibers are intergrown into felt-like aggregates. Most familiar to collectors is the kind of ulexite that is popularly called "TV rock" because of its natural fiber optic character. Less well known forms are the acicular variety that can make for spectacular specimens and the form that is called "clam shell" ulexite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:4085:9

2c0a0c62-cf09-4ac1-bb66-481c72291ff6

IMA Classification of UlexiteHide

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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

IMA Formula:

NaCaB5O6(OH)6 · 5H2O

Classification of UlexiteHide

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6.EA.25

6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
A : Neso-pentaborates

26.5.11.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates

9.3.21

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.

Pronunciation of UlexiteHide

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Pronunciation:

Physical Properties of UlexiteHide

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Colour:

Colourless, white, grey with included clays.

Cleavage:

Perfect
Perfect on {010}; on {110} good; on {110} poor.

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Comment:

Fracture uneven across fibers.

Density:

1.955 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.955 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of UlexiteHide

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RI values:

_n_α = 1.491 - 1.496 _n_β = 1.504 - 1.506 _n_γ = 1.519 - 1.520

2V:

Measured: 73° to 78°, Calculated: 68°

δ = 0.028

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Optical Extinction:

X (11.5°,81°); Y (100°,21.5°); Z (107°,70°) [with c (0°,0°) and b* (0°,90°) using (φ,ρ)].

Chemistry of UlexiteHide

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Mindat Formula:

NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O

Crystallography of UlexiteHide

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Class (H-M):

1 - Pinacoidal

Cell Parameters:

a = 8.816(3) Å, b = 12.87 Å, c = 6.678(1) Å
α = 90.25°, β = 109.12°, γ = 105.1°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.685 : 1 : 0.519

Unit Cell V:

687.83 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Small nodular, rounded, or lens-like masses; loose at times (termed "cotton balls"), comprised of acicular crystals. Fibers may be radially arranged or randomly oriented towards the centers of the masses and arranged in parallel position at the periphery. Botryoidal crusts or randomly oriented fibers. Compact veins with a parallel fibrous structure. Distinct crystals rare, greatly elongated [001] (Palache et al (1951) Dana's System of Min.: 345).

Twinning:

Polysynthetic, common in massive aggregates and crushed fragments. Several twin laws apply: 1. Polysynthetic on {010} and {100}; 2. {340} or {230} less certain, and others of a more complex nature. The twinning distinguishes ulexite from probertite.

Crystal StructureHide

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ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0000611	Ulexite	Ghose S, Wan C, Clark J R (1978) Ulexite, NaCaB5O6(OH)6*5H2O: Structure refinement, polyanion configuration, hydrogen bonding, and fiber optics American Mineralogist 63 160-171		1978	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:

Comments:

Jenifer mine, California, USA.

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Geological Setting:

Arid regions. In salt playas and desiccated saline lakes.

Type Occurrence of UlexiteHide

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Geological Setting of Type Material:

Playas in a desert region.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of UlexiteHide

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Other Language Names for UlexiteHide

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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 UlexiteHide

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Yellow, greenish yellow, cream, white.

Other InformationHide

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IR Spectrum:

Bulganak volcano material [cm-1]: 3600, 3520, 3420, 3305, 3220, 3125, 1667, 1631, 1470sh, 1413, 1395sh, 1355, 1319, 1211, 1190sh, 1099s, 1058s, 1001s, 980sh, 960sh, 921, 860s, 837, 747, 716, 643, 611, 538, 505sh, 471w, 445

Notes:

Slightly decomposed in cold water and more so in hot water, with the loss of Na to the solution.

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Ulexite in petrologyHide

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An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.

• Sedimentary rock and sediment
  • Sedimentary rock
    * Biochemical and chemical sedimentary rock
    * Evaporite
    * Ulexite-stone

Internet Links for UlexiteHide

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References for UlexiteHide

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Reference List:

**Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.**pp.345-348

Ghose, Subrata, Wan, Che'ng, Clark, Joan R. (1978) Ulexite, NaCaB5(OH)6·5H2O: structure refinement, polyanion configuration, hydrogen bonding, and fiber optics. American Mineralogist, 63 (1-2) 160-171

**Anthony, John Williams, Bideaux, Richard A., Bladh, Kenneth W., Nichols, Monte C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy Vol. 5 - Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, Arizona.**p.722

Localities for UlexiteHide

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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.