Boleite was 1st uncovered in Boleo, Mexico in 1891, in the area in the Baja peninsula that is now well-known for rare minerals. Boleite is such an unconventional and sophisticated mineral the definition of its chemical composition and crystal structure have been through various revisions due to the fact its 1st discovery.
The primary specimens of boleite had been discovered by Eduoard Cumenge, a French mining engineer. A different unusual halide mineral from your exact same locale, with the same construction and a rather diverse chemical composition, was named cumengite in honor of Cumenge.
There are lots of attributes of boleite which make it of distinct interest to collectors. For something, it has an unconventional chemical composition, currently being a hydrated lead copper silver chloride hydroxide. It incorporates important quantities of such metals, with about 49% guide, Δαχτυλίδια 14% copper and nine% silver. Secondly, it's got a fascinating crystal composition, due to the fact boleite is always pseudocubically twinned. That is, Just about every cube-like crystal of boleite is in fact composed of 3 rectangular box-like crystals oriented at correct angles to one another. Boleite also has an extremely interesting indigo shade and some quite rare clear crystals have been Slice ΛευκόχÏυσα as gemstones.
Boleite in MatrixBoleite in Matrix
Like other halide minerals, including fluorite, boleite is sort of delicate, which has a Δαχτυλιδια skroutz Mohs hardness score of only three to 3.five. It's got a vitreous ΧÏυσά to pearly luster. It really is an unusually dense mineral, with a selected ΧÏυσά & ΛευκόχÏυσα Δαχτυλίδια gravity of 5.05. Just a few minerals, like hematite and cassiterite, have an increased density. Boleite's refractive index can also be incredibly higher at two.03-two.05; larger than sapphire, sphene and demantoid garnet.
In combination with cumengite, There are a variety of other minerals affiliated with boleite, which includes pseudoboleite, chloroxiphite, paralaurionite, matlockite, chlorargyrite, bideauxite, atacamite, mendipite and diaboleite.
Besides the deposit in Baja, Mexico, boleite continues to be present in Damaged Hill in New South Wales, Australia; in the Mammoth District of Arizona in The usa; and during the Mendip Hills of Somerset, England.
