Ulexite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Ulexite

Ulexite

Name/Title

Ulexite

Entry/Object ID

2014.1.40

Description

Chemical Composition: Al(OH)3 Crystal System: Hexagonal System Description: Common Name: Ulexite Chemistry: NaCaB5O6(OH)6-5H2O Group: Carbonates Location: California Description: Small block with flat, smooth surfaces on two sides. Color is creamy white with vertical linear structure. Physical Charateristics: Color is white or gray to colorless. • Luster is silky. • Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent. • Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1 • Crystal Habits include tufts of acicular crystals called "cotton balls". Also as vein-like masses of parallel fibrous crystals. • Cleavage is perfect in one direction. • Fracture is fibrous. • Hardness is 2 (softer than a fingernail) • Specific Gravity is approximately 1.97 (very low density) • Streak is white. • Associated Minerals are borax, colemanite, hydroboracite and other borate minerals. • Other Characteristics: similar borate minerals have an alkaline taste, while ulexite is tasteless. • Notable Occurrences include several localities in California and Nevada, USA; Tarapaca, Chile and Kazakhstan. • Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, associations, locality, density, unique optical property, and hardness. Hardness: 7 Quartz Rock Type: Sedimentary

Collection

RAGM Mineral Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2014.1

Source or Donor

Crater Rock Museum (unknown donors)

Acquisition Method

Gift

Dimensions

Height

1-11/16 in

Width

1-3/8 in

Length

1-3/8 in

Location

Location

Display Case

FS-11

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Permanent

Moved By

Curtis Gardner

Date

December 27, 2023