Boleite was initially 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 initial specimens of boleite had been found out by Eduoard Cumenge, a French mining engineer. A different unusual halide mineral in the same locale, with the same structure and a rather distinct chemical composition, was named cumengite in honor of Cumenge.
There are numerous 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 major quantities of such metals, with about 49% guide, 14% copper and nine% silver. Secondly, it's got an interesting crystal structure, due to ΧÏυσά 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 ΧÏυσά & ΛευκόχÏυσα Δαχτυλίδια oriented at correct angles to one another. Boleite also has an extremely attractive indigo shade and some quite uncommon clear crystals happen to be Slice as gemstones.
Boleite in MatrixBoleite in Matrix
Like other halide minerals, including fluorite, boleite is sort of comfortable, with a Mohs hardness score of only three Δαχτυλιδια swarovski to 3.five. It has a vitreous to pearly luster. It truly is an unusually dense mineral, with a specific gravity of 5.05. Only some 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 number of other minerals connected to boleite, such as pseudoboleite, chloroxiphite, paralaurionite, matlockite, chlorargyrite, bideauxite, atacamite, mendipite and diaboleite.
Besides ΧÏυσά 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 us; and during the Mendip Δαχτυλιδια skroutz Hills of Somerset, England.
