Boromuscovite

Formula:  KAl2(Si3B)O10(OH,F)2

Origin of name:  From boron and muscovite

 

Crystal system:  Monoclinic

Crystal class:  2/m

Twinning:

Unit cell: -1M: a = 5.077 Å, b = 8.775 Å, c = 10.061 Å, b = 101.31°, -2M1: a = 5.075 Å, b = 8.794 Å, c = 19.815 Å, b = 95.59°

 

Colour:  Buff to white or pale cream

Diaphaneity:  Nearly opaque

Luster:  Porcelaneous

Habit:  Grains < 3-4 µm forming hard, porcelaneous coatings to 1 cm thick

Hardness:  2.5 to 3

Specific gravity:  2.81

Cleavage:  2; {100} perfect, {010} poor parting

Tenacity: Subconchoidal fracture

Streak:  White

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments: 2 polytypes -1M and 2M1, micagroup. Found as coating on other minerals on the floor of a pegmatite pocket, hydrothermally deposited after rupture of the pocket

 

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