Gowerite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Gowerite
Formula:
Ca[B5O8(OH)][B(OH)3] · 3H2O
Colour:
Colorless, white
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
2.00
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
In honor of Harrison Preston Gower (4 November 1890 – 18 March 1967), Mining Manager, U.S. Borax and Chemical Company, for his assistance to scientific studies of Death Valley borate deposits.
This page provides mineralogical data about Gowerite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1733
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1733:2
Similar Names
| Gorerite | A valid IMA mineral species | CaAlFe113+O19 |
IMA Classification of Gowerite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca[B5O8(OH)][B(OH)3]·3H2O
First published:
1959
Classification of Gowerite
6.EC.10
6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
C : Phyllo-pentaborates
6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
C : Phyllo-pentaborates
26.5.8.1
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates
9.3.13
9 : Borates
3 : Borates of Ca and Sr
9 : Borates
3 : Borates of Ca and Sr
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gow | 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 Gowerite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless, white
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{001}, distinct; {100}, imperfect
{001}, distinct; {100}, imperfect
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.00(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.003 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gowerite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.484(2) nβ = 1.501(2) nγ = 1.550(2)
2V:
Calculated: 63°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.066
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:
Low (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v to r < v strong
Optical Extinction:
Y = b; Z ∧ c = 27°.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Gowerite
Mindat Formula:
Ca[B5O8(OH)][B(OH)3] · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Gowerite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.882 Å, b = 16.360 Å, c = 6.558 Å
β = 121.62°
β = 121.62°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.787 : 1 : 0.401
Unit Cell V:
1,176.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Long prismatic [001] to needle-like, grouped in radiating globular clusters. Striated parallel to [001].
Comment:
data from synthetic material
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000273 | Gowerite | Konnert J A, Clark J R, Christ C L (1972) Gowerite, CaB5O8(OH).B(OH)3.3H2O: Crystal structure and comparison with related borates American Mineralogist 57 381-396 |  | 1972 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.23 Å | (100) |
| 9.20 Å | (25) |
| 4.094 Å | (20) |
| 3.88 Å | (10b) |
| 3.345 Å | (10) |
| 6.57 Å | (5) |
| 5.37 Å | (5) |
Comments:
Furnace Creek Mining District, California, USA. Data from the type description (data for synthetic material are also given).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Gowerite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Globular clusters, to 10 mm in diameter, of radiating small blades. Single crystals are (average) 0.8 mm x 0.06 mm x 0.02 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 136417, 147960.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Weathering of colemanite and priceite veins in altered basaltic rocks.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Gowerite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Gowerite associated with Nobleite | CaB6O9(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 1 photo of Gowerite associated with Mcallisterite | Mg2[B6O7(OH)6]2 · 9H2O |
| 1 photo of Gowerite associated with Colemanite | Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2O |
| 1 photo of Gowerite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.EC. | Calcioveatchite | SrCaB11O16(OH)5 · 5H2O |
| 6.EC.05 | Nasinite | Na2[B5O8(OH)] · 2H2O |
| 6.EC.05 | Biringuccite | Na2B5O8(OH) · H2O |
| 6.EC.15 | 'Veatchite-2M' | Sr2B11O16(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.EC.15 | 'Veatchite-A' | Sr2B11O16(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.EC.15 | Veatchite | Sr2B11O16(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.EC.15 | 'Veatchite-1M' | Sr2B11O16(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.EC.20 | Volkovskite | KCa4[B5O8OH]4[B(OH)3]2Cl · 4H2O |
| 6.EC.25 | Tuzlaite | NaCaB5O8(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 6.EC.30 | Heidornite | Na2Ca3B5O8(SO4)2Cl(OH)2 |
| 6.EC.35 | Popugaevaite | Ca3[B5O6(OH)6]FCl2 · 8H2O |
| 6.EC.35 | Brianroulstonite | Ca3[B5O6(OH)6](OH)Cl2 · 8H2O |
Fluorescence of Gowerite
Not fluorescent
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Death Valley material [cm-1]: 3325, 3210sh, 3010sh, 1620sh, 1450sh, 1415s, 1355s, 1258s, 1116, 1045sh, 1021s, 977s, 965s, 912, 861, 837w, 763, 732w, 707w, 679w, 661w, 635w, 602w, 497w, 478w, 456w
Thermal Behaviour:
Heated in a closed tube, it decrepitates, loses water and turns white and translucent to opaque. Before the blowpipe, it decrepitates and fuses to an opaque enamel bead.
Notes:
Soluble with difficulty in cold H2O. Moderately soluble in hot H2O. Readily soluble in cold dilute acids and alkalis. Slowly dissolved by cold 30% hydrogen peroxide. Reacts with H2SO4 to give gypsum and sassolite. Apparently insoluble in methyl alcohol.
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 Gowerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1733.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Gowerite
Reference List:
Erd, R. C., McAllister, J. F., Almond, H. (1959) Gowerite, a new hydrous calcium borate from the Death Valley region, California. American Mineralogist, 44 (9-10) 911-919
(1962) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 33 (258) 260-263 doi:10.1180/minmag.1962.033.258.09
Konnert, Judith A., Clark, Joan R., Christ, and C. L. (1972) Gowerite, CaB5O8(OH)·B(OH)3·3H2O: Crystal structure and comparison with related borates. American Mineralogist, 57 (3-4) 381-396
Localities for Gowerite
Showing 13 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.
Argentina | |
| Helvaci et al. (2000) +2 other references |
South Africa | |
| Pohl et al. (1991) |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) | |
USA | |
| www.mineralsocal.org (1999) |
| Erd et al. (1959) +3 other references |
| Erd et al. (1959) +1 other reference |
| Erd et al. (1959) | |
| Erd et al. (1959) | |
| Erd et al. (1979) |
| Erd et al. (1959) +1 other reference | |
| Erd et al. (1979) | |
| Erd et al. (1959) +1 other reference |
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Hard Scramble claim, Ryan, Furnace Creek Mining District, Inyo County, California, USA