A NEW HYDRATED BORATE-CARBONATE FROM TINCALAYU, SALTA, ARGENTINA.

Authors

  • Lorenzo Francisco Aristarain

Keywords:

Mineralogy, Borate, Carbonate, Tincalayu, Salta Argentina,

Abstract

Data for a new mineral found included in borax and kernite at Tincalayu, Salta, Argentina are presented. The mineral is rhombic-dipyramidal, 21m 21m 21m, space group Pccm ?, a = 9,85 A, b = 13.54 A, e = 8.01 A ± 0.02 A, a:b:c = 0.728:1:0.592, cell volume = 1068.3 A3. The crystals are euhedral, flattened on {01O}and bounded by {10l} yielding a diamond shape but with two points ofthe diamond truncated by {100}. Some crystals are elongated on [101] resembling monoclinic symmetry with an extinction angle of 39°. The elongated crystals measure 100x30x 1Of..L The strongest line on the X-ray powder photograph are in A: 7.94 (10), 3.95 (6), 3.83 (5), 3.54 (8), 3.32 (8), 2.10 (6), 2.04 (5), 1.92 (5), 1.85 (5). The mineral in transparent, colorless with vitreous luster, the hardness is 3, the measured density is 2.15 grcm-3. Thecleavages are {01O}perfect, {101} good. It is biaxial positive, ex= 1.503, ~= 1.523, y= 1.559 ± 0.001 Na light, 2 V = 75°, ex - y= 0.056, r< v, Z = a, X = b, Y = c. The amountofthe mineral is extremely small, which precluded achemical analysis. It dissolves in HCll: 1with effervescence giving a strong boron reaction. It is assumed that it is a hydrated boratecarbonate, possibly ofNa or Na, Mg and Ca.

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