Inyoite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Inyoite
Seal of Inyo County, California, USA
Formula:
Ca(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
Colour:
Colourless, turning white upon partial dehydration; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
1.875
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
After the type locality in Inyo County, California, USA
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2036
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2036:3
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Inyoite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
CaB3O3(OH)5·4H2O
First published:
1916
Classification of Inyoite
6.CA.35
6 : BORATES
C : Triborates
A : Neso-triborates
6 : BORATES
C : Triborates
A : Neso-triborates
26.3.1.1
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : Triborates
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : Triborates
9.3.12
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Iyo | 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 Inyoite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, turning white upon partial dehydration; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {001} good; on {010} quality unstated.
On {001} good; on {010} quality unstated.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
1.875 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.87 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Inyoite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.490 - 1.495 nβ = 1.501 - 1.505 nγ = 1.516 - 1.520
2V:
Measured: 70° to 86°, Calculated: 70° to 80°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.025 - 0.026
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 (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:
relatively weak
Chemistry of Inyoite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Inyoite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.621(1) Å, b = 12.066(1) Å, c = 8.408(1) Å
β = 114.03°
β = 114.03°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.88 : 1 : 0.697
Unit Cell V:
984.13 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic [001] to tabular {001}, with {110} and {001} dominant. Massive granular; coarse spherulitic aggregates.
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
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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
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
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Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009226 | Inyoite | Clark J R (1959) Studies of borate minerals IV. The structure of inyoite, CaB3O3(OH)5*4H2O Acta Crystallographica 12 162-170 |  | 1959 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.67 Å | (100) |
| 2.526 Å | (25) |
| 3.368 Å | (22) |
| 1.968 Å | (22) |
| 2.547 Å | (21) |
| 3.450 Å | (20) |
| 2.799 Å | (19) |
Comments:
Monte Azul mine, Argentina.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 24 : Authigenic minerals in terrestrial sediments (see also #17) | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) |
Type Occurrence of Inyoite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Large intergrown rhombs, glassy and clear when fresh, but altering / pseudomorphing to meyerhofferite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 87237, 93639.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Borate evaporite deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Inyoite
Relationship of Inyoite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Inderite Group:
| Inderborite | CaMg(H3B3O7)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Inderite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Kurnakovite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Meyerhofferite | CaB3O3(OH)5 · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Solongoite | Ca2(H3B3O7)(OH)Cl | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 87 photos of Inyoite associated with Meyerhofferite | CaB3O3(OH)5 · H2O |
| 15 photos of Inyoite associated with Colemanite | Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2O |
| 8 photos of Inyoite associated with Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| 3 photos of Inyoite associated with Ulexite | NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O |
| 1 photo of Inyoite associated with Nobleite | CaB6O9(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 1 photo of Inyoite associated with Thénardite | Na2SO4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.CA.10 | Ameghinite | Na(H4B3O7) |
| 6.CA.15 | Inderite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O |
| 6.CA.20 | Kurnakovite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O |
| 6.CA.25 | Inderborite | CaMg(H3B3O7)2 · 8H2O |
| 6.CA.30 | Meyerhofferite | CaB3O3(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.CA.40 | Solongoite | Ca2(H3B3O7)(OH)Cl |
| 6.CA.45 | Peprossiite-(Ce) | CeAl2(B3.67Si0.33)O10.67 |
| 6.CA.45 | Peprossiite-(Y) | YAl2(B3.67Si0.33)O10.67 |
| 6.CA.50 | Nifontovite | Ca3B6O6(OH)12(H2O)2 |
| 6.CA.55 | Olshanskyite | Ca2[B3O3(OH)6](OH) · 3H2O |
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Inder material [cm-1]: 3530s, 3440, 3325, 3225, 3120sh, 1650, 1600, 1480, 1433s, 1395, 1345, 1222, 1171s, 1109s, 1067s, 1009s, 963s, 895s, 808s, 750sh, 718, 570sh, 543, 486, 464
Thermal Behaviour:
Before the blowpipe, it decrepitates and fuses with much intumescence, giving a greenish boron flame. Heated in a closed tube, abundant water is easily given off.
Notes:
Soluble in hot water and dilute acids.
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 Inyoite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2036.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Inyoite
Reference List:
Rogers, Austin F. (1919) Colemanite pseudomorphous after inyoite from Death Valley, California. American Mineralogist, 4 (11) 135-139
Murdoch, Joseph; Webb, Robert W. (1940) Notes on some minerals from southern California. II. American Mineralogist, 25 (8). 549-555
Christ, C. L. (1953) Studies of borate minerals (II) : X-ray crystallography of inyoite and meyerhofferite; X-ray and morphological crystallography of CaO·3B2O3·9H2O. American Mineralogist, 38 (11-12) 912-918
Muessig, Siegfried (1958) First known occurrence of inyoite in a playa, at Laguna Salinas, Peru. American Mineralogist, 43 (11-12) 1144-1147
Clark, J. R. (1959) Studies of borate minerals. IV. The crystal structure of inyoite, CaB3O3(OH)5.4H2O. Acta Crystallographica, 12 (2) 162-170 doi:10.1107/s0365110x59000457
Roulston, B. V., Waugh, D. C. E. (1981) A borate mineral assemblage from Penobsquis and Salt Springs evaporite deposits of southern New Brunswick. The Canadian Mineralogist, 19 (2) 291-301
Kusachi, Isao, Kobayashi, Shoichi, Tanabe, Mitsuo, Kishi, Shigetomo, Yamakawa, Junji (2004) Inyoite from Fuka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 99 (2) 67-71 doi:10.2465/jmps.99.67
Chukanov, Nikita V. (2014) Springer Geochemistry/Mineralogy - Infrared spectra of mineral species. Springer Netherlands. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7128-4
Frost, Ray L., López, Andrés, Scholz, Ricardo, Theiss, Frederick, Costa, Geraldo Magela da (2015) Structural characterization of the borate mineral inyoite – CaB3O3(OH)5⋅4(H2O). Journal of Molecular Structure, 1080. 99-104 doi:10.1016/j.molstruc.2014.09.079
Localities for Inyoite
Showing 39 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 +3 other references |
| Dr. Jorge Dascal (Patagonia Minerals) +3 other references |
| www.sijes.com.ar |
| www.sijes.com.ar | |
| Helvaci et al. (2000) +1 other reference | |
| Alonso (1999) | |
| Jewel Tunnel Import specimens. | |
| Garrett (1998) +3 other references | |
| Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum ... | |
| Helvaci et al. (2000) +2 other references | |
| Smith et al. (2002) |
Canada | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Papezik et al. (1975) |
China | |
| National Geological Archives of China ... |
| National Geological Archives of China ... | |
| Xiyu Zheng and Shengsong Yu (1981) +1 other reference |
| Renyi Chen et al. (1995) |
Iran | |
| Hairapetian et al. (2017) |
Japan | |
| Kusachi et al. (2004) |
Kazakhstan | |
| - (1993) +2 other references |
| Pekov (1998) | |
Peru | |
| Hyrsl et al. (2003) |
Russia | |
| Dmitry Tonkacheev |
| maurice.strahlen.org (2004) |
South Africa | |
| Gutzmer (1996) |
Spain | |
| Navarro et al. (2009) |
Turkey | |
| Helvaci +2 other references |
| Helvaci et al. (1991) |
| Meixner (1953) +1 other reference |
| Helvaci et al. (2000) +2 other references |
USA (TL) | |
| Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences (1914) +3 other references |
| Korbel et al. (1999) | |
| Schaller (1916) +1 other reference |
| Erd et al. (1970) +1 other reference | |
| www.mineralsocal.org (1999) |
| U.S. Borax | |
| Morgan et al. (1969) +2 other references | |
| - (2005) |
| - (2005) |
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Monte Azul deposit, Sijes, Susques Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina