P-Veatchite. Collected from Billie Mine, Death Valley, Inyo County, California. Mineral collection of Bringham Young University Department of Geology, Provo, Utah. Photograph by Andrew Silver. BYU index 8- 2059. Image file: http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/htmllib/btch569/btch569j/btch569z/btch569/byu00837.jpg — Photo: The original uploader was Tillman at English Wikipedia . · Public domain
Veatchite
An unusual strontium borate discovered in 1938 at California's Sterling Borax mine in Tick Canyon.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Veatchite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula Sr₂B₁₁O₁₆(OH)₅·H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1). It is a member of the Veatchite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2; specific gravity 2.66; Vitreous, pearly on cleavages; silky in fibrous masses luster; refractive index 1.575; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Vea, IMA status: approved, named in 1938.
Uncommon in evaporite borate deposits formed by volcanic activity.
It is found associated with Howlite, colemanite (Sterling mine, California, USA).
The mineral was named to honor John A. Veatch (1808–1870), American physician and geologist, who first detected boron in mineral waters in California, USA in the late 1800’s.