Mineralogy Database

Tunellite Mineral Data

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General Tunellite Information

Help on Chemical Formula: Chemical Formula: SrB6O9(OH)2•3(H2O)
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 384.54 gm
   Strontium  22.79 %  Sr   26.95 % SrO
   Boron      16.87 %  B    54.31 % B2O3
   Hydrogen    2.10 %  H    18.74 % H2O
   Oxygen     58.25 %  O
             ______        ______ 
             100.00 %      100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: SrB6O9(OH)2•3(H2O)
Help on Environment: Environment: Borate deposits.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Approved IMA 1961
Help on Locality: Locality: U. S. Borax open pit, Boron, Kern Co., California. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Named for George Tunnel (1900-1996), U. S. Mineralogist.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Tunellite + Pronunciation Say TUNELLITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: Balavinskite ?
  ICSD 15479
  PDF 14-616
 

Tunellite Image

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  Tunellite

Comments: Clear, prismatic crystals of tunellite on matrix.
Location: Death Valley, Inyo County, California, USA. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Tunellite Crystallography
Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:b:c =1.7521:1:1.2095
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 14.39, b = 8.213, c = 9.934, Z = 4; beta = 114.067° V = 1,071.99 Den(Calc)= 2.38
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Monoclinic - Prismatic H-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 21/a
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 6.57(1), 5.135(0.3), 6.97(0.25),
 

Physical Properties of Tunellite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: {100} Perfect, {001} Distinct
Help on Color: Color: Colorless.
Help on Density: Density: 2.4
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Transparent
Help on Habit: Habit: Nodular - Tuberose forms having irregular protuberances over the surface.
Help on Habit: Habit: Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline).
Help on Habit: Habit: Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 2.5 - Finger Nail
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Fluorescent, Short UV=butter yellow, Long UV=butter yellow.
Help on Luster: Luster: Vitreous - Pearly
Help on Streak: Streak: white
 

Optical Properties of Tunellite

Help on Gladstone-Dale: Gladstone-Dale: CI meas= -0.026 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.035 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2272,KPDmeas= 0.2253,KC= 0.2196
Ncalc = 1.52 - 1.53
Help on Optical Data: Optical Data: Biaxial (+), a=1.519, b=1.534, g=1.569, bire=0.0500
Help on Pleochroism (x): Pleochroism (x): colorless.
Help on Pleochroism (y): Pleochroism (y): colorless.
Help on Pleochroism (z): Pleochroism (z): colorless.
 

Calculated Properties of Tunellite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.35 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Tunellite =2.40 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.04
Boson Index = 0.96
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PETunellite = 24.87 barns/electron
U=PETunellite x rElectron Density= 58.36 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Tunellite is Not Radioactive
 

Tunellite Classification
Help on Dana Class: Dana Class: 26.06.06.02 (26)Hydrated Borates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
  (26.06)Dana Type
  (26.06.06)Dana Group
 
26.06.06.01 Nobleite CaB6O9(OH)2•3(H2O) P 21/a 2/m
 
26.06.06.02 Tunellite SrB6O9(OH)2•3(H2O) P 21/a 2/m
Help on Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 06.FC.05 06 - BORATES
  06.F - Hexaborates
  06.FC -Phyllo-hexaborates
 
06.FC.05 Balavinskite? Sr2B6O11•4(H2O) Mono ? Mono
 
06.FC.05 Nobleite CaB6O9(OH)2•3(H2O) P 21/a 2/m
 
06.FC.05 Tunellite SrB6O9(OH)2•3(H2O) P 21/a 2/m
 

Other Tunellite Information
Help on References: References: NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Tunellite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Tunellite Specimen Label here :

Tunellite

SrB6O9(OH)2•3(H2O)
Dana No: 26.06.06.02 Strunz No: 06.FC.05
Locality:

 

Notes:

 
 
   
 

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