Inyoite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Inyoite
Seal of Inyo County, California, USA
Formula:
Ca(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
Colour:
Colourless, turning white upon partial dehydration; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
1.875
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
After the type locality in Inyo County, California, USA
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2036
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2036:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
679a0a0a-f428-412d-aed6-e29e63ae40a9
IMA Classification of Inyoite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
CaB3O3(OH)5 · 4H2O
First published:
1916
Type description reference:
Classification of Inyoite
6.CA.35
6 : BORATES
C : Triborates
A : Neso-triborates
6 : BORATES
C : Triborates
A : Neso-triborates
26.3.1.1
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : Triborates
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : Triborates
9.3.12
9 : Borates
3 : Borates of Ca and Sr
9 : Borates
3 : Borates of Ca and Sr
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Iyo | 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 Inyoite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, turning white upon partial dehydration; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {001} good; on {010} quality unstated.
On {001} good; on {010} quality unstated.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
1.875 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.87 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Inyoite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.490 - 1.495 nβ = 1.501 - 1.505 nγ = 1.516 - 1.520
2V:
Measured: 70° to 86°, Calculated: 70° to 80°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.026
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
relatively weak
Chemistry of Inyoite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Inyoite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.621(1) Å, b = 12.066(1) Å, c = 8.408(1) Å
β = 114.03°
β = 114.03°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.88 : 1 : 0.697
Unit Cell V:
984.13 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic [001] to tabular {001}, with {110} and {001} dominant. Massive granular; coarse spherulitic aggregates.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009226 | Inyoite | Clark J R (1959) Studies of borate minerals IV. The structure of inyoite, CaB3O3(OH)5*4H2O Acta Crystallographica 12 162-170 |  | 1959 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.67 Å | (100) |
| 2.526 Å | (25) |
| 3.368 Å | (22) |
| 1.968 Å | (22) |
| 2.547 Å | (21) |
| 3.450 Å | (20) |
| 2.799 Å | (19) |
Comments:
Monte Azul mine, Argentina.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 24 : Authigenic minerals in terrestrial sediments (see also #17) | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) |
Type Occurrence of Inyoite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Large intergrown rhombs, glassy and clear when fresh, but altering / pseudomorphing to meyerhofferite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 87237, 93639.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Borate evaporite deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Schaller, W.T. (1916), Inyoite and meyerhofferite, two new calcium borates, USGS Bull. 610: 35-55.
Other Language Names for Inyoite
Relationship of Inyoite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Inderborite | CaMg(H3B3O7)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Inderite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Kurnakovite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Meyerhofferite | CaB3O3(OH)5 · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Solongoite | Ca2(H3B3O7)(OH)Cl | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 83 photos of Inyoite associated with Meyerhofferite | CaB3O3(OH)5 · H2O |
| 14 photos of Inyoite associated with Colemanite | Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2O |
| 8 photos of Inyoite associated with Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| 3 photos of Inyoite associated with Ulexite | NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O |
| 1 photo of Inyoite associated with Thénardite | Na2SO4 |
| 1 photo of Inyoite associated with Nobleite | CaB6O9(OH)2 · 3H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.CA.10 | Ameghinite | Na(H4B3O7) |
| 6.CA.15 | Inderite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O |
| 6.CA.20 | Kurnakovite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O |
| 6.CA.25 | Inderborite | CaMg(H3B3O7)2 · 8H2O |
| 6.CA.30 | Meyerhofferite | CaB3O3(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.CA.40 | Solongoite | Ca2(H3B3O7)(OH)Cl |
| 6.CA.45 | Peprossiite-(Ce) | (Ce,La)(Al3O)2/3B4O10 |
| 6.CA.50 | Nifontovite | Ca3B6O6(OH)12(H2O)2 |
| 6.CA.55 | Olshanskyite | Ca2[B3O3(OH)6](OH) · 3H2O |
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Inder material [cm-1]: 3530s, 3440, 3325, 3225, 3120sh, 1650, 1600, 1480, 1433s, 1395, 1345, 1222, 1171s, 1109s, 1067s, 1009s, 963s, 895s, 808s, 750sh, 718, 570sh, 543, 486, 464
Thermal Behaviour:
Before the blowpipe, it decrepitates and fuses with much intumescence, giving a greenish boron flame. Heated in a closed tube, abundant water is easily given off.
Notes:
Soluble in hot water and dilute acids.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Inyoite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2036.html
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References for Inyoite
Reference List:
Rogers, Austin F. (1919) Colemanite pseudomorphous after inyoite from Death Valley, California. American Mineralogist, 4 (11) 135-139
Murdoch, Joseph, Webb, Robert W. (1940) Notes on some minerals from southern California, II. American Mineralogist, 25 (8) 549-555
Roulston, B. V., Waugh, D. C. E. (1981) A borate mineral assemblage from Penobsquis and Salt Springs evaporite deposits of southern New Brunswick. The Canadian Mineralogist, 19 (2) 291-301
Kusachi, Isao, Kobayashi, Shoichi, Tanabe, Mitsuo, Kishi, Shigetomo, Yamakawa, Junji (2004) Inyoite from Fuka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 99 (2) 67-71 doi:10.2465/jmps.99.67
Localities for Inyoite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Helvaci +3 other references |
| Dr (Patagonia Minerals) +3 other references |
| www.sijes.com.ar |
| www.sijes.com.ar | |
| A Summary and Geological Comparison. ... +1 other reference | |
| Alonso (1999) | |
| Jewel Tunnel Import specimens. | |
| A Summary and Geological Comparison. ... +3 other references | |
| Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum ... | |
| A Summary and Geological Comparison. ... +2 other references | |
| Smith et al. (2002) |
Canada | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Papezik et al. (1975) |
China | |
| National Geological Archives of China ... |
| National Geological Archives of China ... | |
| Xiyu Zheng and Shengsong Yu (1981) +1 other reference |
| Renyi Chen et al. (1995) |
Japan | |
| Kusachi et al. (2004) |
Kazakhstan | |
| - (1993) +2 other references |
| Pekov (1998) | |
Peru | |
| Hyrsl et al. (2003) |
Russia | |
| Dmitry Tonkacheev |
| maurice.strahlen.org (2004) |
South Africa | |
| Gutzmer (1996) |
Spain | |
| Navarro et al. (2009) |
Turkey | |
| Helvaci +2 other references |
| Helvaci et al. (1991) |
| Meixner (1953) +1 other reference |
| A Summary and Geological Comparison. ... +2 other references |
USA (TL) | |
| Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences (1914) +3 other references |
| Korbel et al. (1999) | |
| Schaller (1916b) +1 other reference |
| Erd et al. (1970) +1 other reference | |
| www.mineralsocal.org |
| California Division of Mines & Geology Mineral Information Service: 22 (9) +2 other references | |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 246. +2 other references |
| - (2005) |
| - (2005) |
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Monte Azul deposit, Sijes, Susques Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina