Kaliborite
Current inventory: 0 gems
 

  
Kaliborite was discovered and named in 1889 by German chemist Dr. Wilhelm Friedrich August Feit (1867-1956) for the KALIum (Latin name for potassium) and BORon in its chemical composition.

Discovered in 1889; IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

KHMg₂B₁₂O₁₆(OH)₁₀ • 4(H₂O)

Hydrated Potassium Magnesium Borate Hydroxide

Molecular Weight:

719.56 gm

Composition:

Potassium

5.46 %

K

6.57 %

K₂O

Magnesium

6.78 %

Mg

11.25 %

MgO

Boron

18.10 %

B

58.29 %

B₂O₃

Hydrogen

2.67 %

H

23.88 %

H₂O

Oxygen

66.98 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Borates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/J.05-40

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

6.FB.10

6 : BORATES
F : Hexaborates
B : Ino-hexaborates

Related to:

Larderellite - Kaliborite Series

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

Heintzite, Hintzeite, ICSD 76660, Paternoite, PDF 18-669

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Small crystals typically with uneven face development; in powdery aggregates, granular and massive. Fine-grained nodular masses. Microscopic rhombic scales with plane angles of about 62°, with the acute angle truncated to a yield a hexagonal outline at times. Crystals frequently aggregated and with asymmetrical development.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Perfect on {001} and {101}. Good on {100}.

Fracture:

Irregular/uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

4.0 - 4.5

Density:

2.116 - 2.128 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Barely Detectable; GRapi = 79.53 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Other:

Slightly soluble in water. Readily soluble in acids.

Optical Properties

Color:

Colorless to white, uncommonly reddish brown; colorless in transmitted light.

Transparency:

Transparent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.508 - 1.550  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.042

Dispersion:

None

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

An uncommon component in marine potash deposits; rarely in efflorescences.

Common Associations:

Boracite, Pinnoite, Kainite (Germany); Anhydrite, Halite (Inder deposit, Kazakhstan).

Common Impurities:

None

Type Locality:

Schmidtmannshall, Aschersleben, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Year Discovered:

1889

View mineral photos:

Kaliborite Mineral Photos and Locations

Unusual Gem Categories

Radioactive Gems, Water Soluble Gems

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Kaliborite is an extremely rare borate mineral that is only found in a few places in the world. Gemmy crystals are very small and only available from the Inder borate deposit, Atyrau Oblast', Kazakhstan. Kaliborite crystals are typically small, transparent, colorless to white with vitreous luster and a Moh's hardness of 4 - 4.5. In addition to being very rare, Kaliborite is difficult to facet because it is slightly soluble in water. Kaliborite is also slightly radioactive due to its potassium content.

Kaliborite was discovered and named in 1889 by German chemist Dr. Wilhelm Friedrich August Feit (1867-1956) for the KALIum (Latin name for potassium) and BORon in its chemical composition.

Kaliborite distribution: In Germany, in Saxony-Anhalt, from Schmidtmannshall, near Aschersleben; Neustassfurt and Leopoldshall, in Stassfurt, 34 km south of Magdeburg. At Sallent-Balsareny, Barcelona Province, Spain. From Monte Sambuco, Calascibetta, Sicily, Italy. At the Inder borate deposit, Kazakhstan. In the USA, from the Eagle Borax Spring, Furnace Creek district, Death Valley, Inyo County, California.
 

  
Kaliborite gems for sale:

We have not photographed our Kaliborite gems yet. Please check back soon.