Boracite

Boracite is a rare mineral. It was first discovered in Luneburg, Hanover, Germany in 1789. The mineral occurs in white to colorless as well as bluish, greenish, grey, and yellowish.

Boracite is formed from Magnesium Borate Chloride (Mg3B7O13Cl). The name Boracite comes from the fact that the mineral contains a high content of the chemical Boron. Boracite ranks 7 - 7.5 on the Moh’s Scale of hardness and has a Specific Gravity of approximately 2.9 - 3.0. Crystals of Boracite are vitreous, transparent to translucent, and occur in a variety of forms including highly modified cubes, massive, fibrous, nodular and as embedded grains. Anther interesting fact about Boracite is that it is slightly soluble in water.

Boracite is commonly found in marine evaporite environments which provide the right factors needed for the mineral to form. Boracite is commonly found in association with other evaporite minerals like Anhydrite, Gypsum, Hilgardite, Magnesite and Halite. Its crystals are typically embedded in these other evaporite minerals or vice versa.

Notable occurrences of Boracite include Yorkshire, England; Strassfurt, Germany; France; Bolivia; Chactaw Salt Dome, Louisiana and Otis, California, USA. A variety of Boracite found at Strassfurt, Germany is a fibrous form and is named Strassfurtite, after the locality.

Boracite can be identified by its crystal habit, color, associations, locality, and its high hardness. In industrial applications, Boracite is used as an ore of boron for boric acid and borax (a cleaning agent and useful industrial chemical). Although it has nice color, clarity and the hardness necessary to be used as a gemstone, Boracite is rarely cut for this purpose. Probably because it is slightly soluble in water and ordinary wear dulls its surface. Still, it is a very attractive mineral specimen among collectors.