Boggsite

Formula:  Ca₈Na₃(Si,Al)₉₆O₁₉₂ ^. 70H₂O

Origin of name:  For Robert (1918- ) and his son Russell Boggs (1952- ), American mineral collectors of Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

Crystal system:  Orthorhombic

Crystal class:  2/m 2/m 2/m

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 20.236 Å, b = 23.798 Å, c = 12.798 Å

Colour:  Colourless, white

Diaphaneity:  Transparent

Luster:  Vitreous

Habit:  Tiny blades 40-127 µm forming tiny hemispheres 0.1-1.5 mm

Hardness:  3.5 to 3.8

Specific gravity:  1.98

Cleavage:  None

Tenacity: Brittle, conchoidal fracture

Streak:  White

Synonyms/varieties:

Comments:  Colourless transparent boggsite nonfluorescent, white zone fluoresces weak blue-white in SW and LW. Member of the zeolite group. Found in vesicles in porphyritic basalt flows intercalated with pyroclasts and minor sediments