Garrelsite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Garrelsite
Robert M. Garrels
Formula:
Ba3NaSi2B7O16(OH)4
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
6
Specific Gravity:
3.68
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by C. Milton, J.M. Axelrod, and F.S. Grimaldi in 1955 in honor of Robert Minard Garrels (24 August 1916, Detroit, Michigan, USA – 8 March 1988, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA), geochemist. He was Chief, Solid State Group, Geochemistry and Petrology Branch, U. S. Geological Survey, when the mineral was discovered. He also was a professor at several institutions including Northwestern, Harvard, and U. Hawaii. His work on aqueous geochemistry was revolutionary. He was the recipient of several awards including the Penrose, Wollaston, and Roebling Medals.
Minute dipyramidal crystals.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1652
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1652:6
Similar Names
| Garrelsite-V | Ba3NaSi2B7O16(OH)4 |
IMA Classification of Garrelsite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
NaBa3B7Si2O16(OH)4
First published:
1955
Classification of Garrelsite
9.AJ.15
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
J : Nesosilicates with BO3 triangles and/or B[4], Be[4] tetrahedra, cornersharing with SiO4
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
J : Nesosilicates with BO3 triangles and/or B[4], Be[4] tetrahedra, cornersharing with SiO4
54.2.4.1
54 : NESOSILICATES Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates
2 : Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates with B in [4] coordination
54 : NESOSILICATES Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates
2 : Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates with B in [4] coordination
17.5.31
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Grr | 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 Garrelsite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
6 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
{001}
Density:
3.68 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.89 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Garrelsite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 1.620(3) nβ = 1.633(3) nγ = 1.640(3)
2V:
Measured: 53° to 57°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.020
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Optical Extinction:
Y = b; Z ∧ [101] (the edge of the {111} form) = 33°; one optic axis is nearly normal to this edge.
Chemistry of Garrelsite
Mindat Formula:
Ba3NaSi2B7O16(OH)4
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Mg,Ca
Crystallography of Garrelsite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 14.65 Å, b = 8.48 Å, c = 13.46 Å
β = 114.3°
β = 114.3°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.728 : 1 : 1.587
Unit Cell V:
1,524.01 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals steep dipyramidal, prismatic, bounded by {110}, {110}, {211}, and {211}; commonly striated.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009552 | Garrelsite | Ghose S, Wan C, Ulbrich H H (1976) Structural chemistry of borosilicates. I. Garrelsite, NaBa3Si2B7O16(OH)4, a silicoborate with the pentaborate [B5O12]9- polyanion Acta Crystallographica B32 824-832 |  | 1976 | South Ouray, Utah | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.05 Å | (100) |
| 3.64 Å | (80) |
| 2.026 Å | (60) |
| 2.873 Å | (45) |
| 2.757 Å | (45) |
| 6.13 Å | (30) |
| 4.23 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) |
Type Occurrence of Garrelsite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Four-sided, steep bipyramidal colorless crystals, to a few millimeters in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No defined type material.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Authigenic origin, in dolomitic shale in drill core from the Green River Formation .
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Garrelsite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.AJ. | Hingganite-(Nd) | Nd2◻Be2Si2O8(OH)2 |
| 9.AJ. | Arrheniusite-(Ce) | CaMg[(Ce7Y3)Ca5](SiO4)4(Si2B3AsO18)(BO3)F11 |
| 9.AJ.05 | Ominelite | (Fe2+,Mg)(Al,Fe3+)3(SiO4)(BO3)O2 |
| 9.AJ.05 | Grandidierite | (Mg,Fe2+)(Al,Fe3+)3(SiO4)(BO3)O2 |
| 9.AJ.10 | Dumortierite | Al(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3) |
| 9.AJ.10 | Nioboholtite | (Nb0.6◻0.4)Al6BSi3O18 |
| 9.AJ.10 | Titanoholtite | (Ti0.75◻0.25)Al6BSi3O18 |
| 9.AJ.10 | Holtite | (Ta0.6◻0.4)Al6BSi3O18(O,OH)2.25 |
| 9.AJ.10 | Magnesiodumortierite | Mg(Al2OH)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3) |
| 9.AJ.20 | 'Muromontite' | near Be2FeY2Si3O12 |
| 9.AJ.20 | Gadolinite-(Nd) | Nd2Fe2+Be2O2(SiO4)2 |
| 9.AJ.20 | Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| 9.AJ.20 | Melanocerite-(Ce) | (Ce,Ca)5(SiO4,BO4)3(OH,O) |
| 9.AJ.20 | Gadolinite-(Ce) | (Ce,La,Nd,Y)2Fe2+Be2Si2O10 |
| 9.AJ.20 | Gadolinite-(Y) | Y2Fe2+Be2Si2O10 |
| 9.AJ.20 | 'Unnamed (OH-analogue of Gadolinite-(Y))' | (Y,Ca)2(Fe,◻)Be2Si2O8(OH,O)2 |
| 9.AJ.20 | Hingganite-(Ce) | (Ce,REE)2(◻,Fe2+)Be2[SiO4]2(OH)2 |
| 9.AJ.20 | Hingganite-(Y) | (Y,REE,Ca)2(◻,Fe2+)Be2[SiO4]2(OH)2 |
| 9.AJ.20 | Hingganite-(Yb) | (Yb,Y,REE)2◻Be2[SiO4]2(OH)2 |
| 9.AJ.20 | Homilite | Ca2(Fe2+,Mg)B2Si2O10 |
| 9.AJ.20 | 'Minasgeraisite-(Y)' | (Ca2Y2)◻2(Be2B2)[SiO4]4(OH)4 |
| 9.AJ.20 | Calcybeborosilite-(Y) | (Y,Ca)2(◻,Fe2+)(B,Be)2[SiO4]2(OH,O)2 |
| 9.AJ.25 | Stillwellite-(La) | LaBSiO5 |
| 9.AJ.25 | Stillwellite-(Ce) | (Ce,La,Ca)BSiO5 |
| 9.AJ.30 | Cappelenite-(Y) | Ba(Y,Ce)6Si3B6O24F2 |
| 9.AJ.35 | Laptevite-(Ce) | Ca6(Fe2+,Mn2+)Y3REE7(SiO4)3(PO4)(B3Si3O18)(BO3)F11 |
| 9.AJ.35 | Proshchenkoite-(Y) | Ca(Y,REE,Ca,Na,Mn)15Fe2+(P,Si)Si6B3O34F14 |
| 9.AJ.35 | Okanoganite-(Y) | (Na,Ca)3(Y,Ce)12Si6B2O27F14 |
| 9.AJ.35 | Hundholmenite-(Y) | (Y,REE,Ca,Na)15(Al,Fe3+)(CaxAs3+1-x)(Si,As5+)Si6B3(O,F)48 |
| 9.AJ.35 | Vicanite-(Ce) | (Ca,Ce,La,Th)15As5+(As3+0.5,Na0.5)Fe3+Si6B4O40F7 |
| 9.AJ.40 | Jadarite | LiNaSiB3O7(OH) |
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 Garrelsite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1652.html
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References for Garrelsite
Reference List:
Localities for Garrelsite
Showing 6 localities.
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.
USA | |
| www.mineralsocal.org (1999) |
| U.S. Borax | |
| Tank (1972) +3 other references | |
| Smith et al. (1972) |
| Chao et al. (1961) |
| Milton et al. (1955) +1 other reference |
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South Ouray No. 1 well, Ouray, Uteland Knoll Mining District, Uintah County, Utah, USA