Meyerhofferite - Encyclopedia
Class : Carbonates, nitrates, borates
Subclass : Borates
Crystal system : Triclinic
Chemistry : CaB3O3(OH)5 H2O
Rarity : Very rare
Meyerhofferite is a very rare borate that forms by alteration of inyoite, which it commonly replaces (pseudomorphs). It is found in evaporitic borate deposits. It was named in honor of Wilhelm Meyerhoffer, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Berlin who worked on the composition and origin of salt minerals. Meyerhofferite forms small, prismatic to fibrous, colorless or white crystals, often assembled into radiated aggregates or fibrous masses of silky luster.
Main photo : Meyerhofferite from Bigadiç, Balikesir Province, Turkey
Meyerhofferite in the World
Twinning
No twin known for this mineral species.
Fakes and treatments
No fakes recorded for this mineral species.
Hardness : 2
Density : 2.12
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : White
TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.500 to 1.560
Birefringence : 0.0360
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : Acids
Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None