Hungchaoite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Mg(B4O7) · 9H2O
Colour:
colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
1.706
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Chang Hung-chao (章鸿钊) (11 March 1877, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China - 6 September 1951, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China), geologist, mineralogist, and professor. He is considered one of the founders of modern Chinese geology and was a founder of the Chinese Geological Society.
This mineral has been reported from an undisclosed salt lake on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau (Zhu et al., 1964), a huge area that includes northern Tibet and northwestern Qinghai provinces. According to Yang (1991), Da Qaidam salt lake in Qinghai Province is the only occurrence of the mineral in that area.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1950
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1950:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
9f590002-dfdd-4daa-baf8-7653e9ac51fb
IMA Classification of Hungchaoite
Approved
IMA Formula:
MgB4O5(OH)4 · 7H2O
First published:
1964
Classification of Hungchaoite
6.DA.20
6 : BORATES
D : Tetraborates
A : Neso-tetraborates
6 : BORATES
D : Tetraborates
A : Neso-tetraborates
26.4.3.1
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : Tetraborates
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : Tetraborates
9.2.12
9 : Borates
2 : Borates of Be and Mg
9 : Borates
2 : Borates of Be and Mg
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 |
---|---|---|
Hch | 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 Hungchaoite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
colorless
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{111}, perfect; {111}, good; {010}, imperfect.
{111}, perfect; {111}, good; {010}, imperfect.
Density:
1.706(5) g/cm3 (Measured) 1.703 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Hungchaoite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.445(2) nβ = 1.485(2) nγ = 1.490(2)
2V:
Measured: 15° (2), Calculated: 36°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.045
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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Chemistry of Hungchaoite
Mindat Formula:
Mg(B4O7) · 9H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Hungchaoite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.807(1) Å, b = 10.657(1) Å, c = 7.897(1) Å
α = 103.39(1)°, β = 108.53(1)°, γ = 97.18(1)°
α = 103.39(1)°, β = 108.53(1)°, γ = 97.18(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.826 : 1 : 0.741
Unit Cell V:
667.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Crystal Structure
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000603 | Hungchaoite | Wan C, Ghose S (1977) Hungchaoite, Mg(H2O)5B4O5(OH)4.2H2O: a hydrogen-bonded molecular complex American Mineralogist 62 1135-1143 | 1977 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
6.71 Å | (100) |
3.356 Å | (92) |
5.36 Å | (85) |
4.093 Å | (78) |
2.912 Å | (73) |
4.079 Å | (64) |
7.14 Å | (59) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) |
Type Occurrence of Hungchaoite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
saline lacustrine sediments
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Chun, I.H., Hsieh, H.T., Chien, T.C., Liu, L.P. (1964) Hungchaoite, a new hydrous magnesium borate. Acta Geologica Sinica: 44: 351-356.
Other Language Names for Hungchaoite
German:Hungchaoit
Russian:Хунчжаоит
Simplified Chinese:章氏硼镁石
Spanish:Hungchaoita
Traditional Chinese:章氏硼鎂石
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
6.DA.10 | Borax | Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O |
6.DA.15 | Tincalconite | Na2(B4O7) · 5H2O |
6.DA.25 | Fedorovskite | Ca2Mg2B4O7(OH)6 |
6.DA.25 | Roweite | Ca2Mn2+2B4O7(OH)6 |
6.DA.30 | Hydrochlorborite | Ca4B8O15Cl2 · 21H2O |
6.DA.35 | Uralborite | Ca2[B3O3(OH)5 · OB(OH)3] |
6.DA.40 | Borcarite | Ca4Mg(B4O6(OH)6)(CO3)2 |
6.DA.40 | Numanoite | Ca4Cu(B4O6(OH)6)(CO3)2 |
6.DA.60 | Fontarnauite | (Na,K)2(Sr,Ca) (SO4)[B5O8(OH)] · 2H2O |
Fluorescence of Hungchaoite
nonfluorescent
Other Information
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 Hungchaoite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1950.html
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References for Hungchaoite
Reference List:
IMA (1967) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (277) 131-136 doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.277.20
Wan, Che'ng, Ghose, Subrata (1977) Hungchaoite, Mg(H2O)5B4O5(OH)4·2H2O: a hydrogen bonded molecular complex. American Mineralogist, 62 (11-12) 1135-1143
Localities for Hungchaoite
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).
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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China (TL) | |
| Yihua Zhu et al. (1964) +3 other references |
Kazakhstan | |
| Anatoly Kasatkin data |
USA | |
| www.mineralsocal.org. +2 other references |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 239. +2 other references |
Erd et al. (1979) | |
Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 239. +2 other references |
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