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Tincalconite  Pictures

BACK TO S,T MINERALS

Tincalconite PSEUDOMORPH after Borax.  Borax is unstable when it is exposed to the atmosphere and it quickly turns into Tincalconite.  It most cases the Tincalconite replaces the Borax completely.

CHEMISTRY Na₂B₄O₅(OH)₄3^.H₂O     Hydrated sodium borate

CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Hexagonal

CRYSTAL GROWTH AND HABITS Known only as a fine grained powder typically produced by the alteration of Borax.

COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES White

SPECIFIC GRAVITY  1.88 (calculated)      

STREAK White

OCCURRENCE Found in playa lakes in southern California.   

ASSOCIATED MINERALS Borax, halite

NAME  From an oriental version of borax, "tincal".