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Biringuccite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Biringuccite
Vannoccio Biringuccio (1480-1538/9)
Formula:
Na2B5O8(OH) · H2O
Colour:
White to pale yellow.
Specific Gravity:
2.32
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
To honor Vannoccio Biringuccio (1480, Siena, Italy – 1538/9, ?), Italian alchemist, metallurgist, politician, mine manager and foundryman; author of the Pirotechnia, his manual on metalworking, published in 1540. He is considered by some as the father of the foundry industry as De la pirotechnia is the first written account of proper foundry practice. He was in charge of casting cannons for Venice and later Florence. In 1536, he was offered a position in Rome by the Catholic Church, and in 1538 he became head of the papal foundry, and director of munitions. He was a Senator of the city of Siena in January and February of 1531.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Biringuccite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
679
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:679:0
IMA Classification of Biringuccite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Na2B5O8(OH)·H2O
Classification of Biringuccite
6.EC.05
6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
C : Phyllo-pentaborates
6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
C : Phyllo-pentaborates
26.5.7.1
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates
26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates
9.1.4
9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid
9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Bgc | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Biringuccite
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White to pale yellow.
Density:
2.32 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.297 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured on synthetic material
Optical Data of Biringuccite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.496(2) nβ = 1.539(2) nγ = 1.557(2)
2V:
Measured: 62° , Calculated: 64°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.061
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
None to Very Low
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
relatively weak
Chemistry of Biringuccite
Mindat Formula:
Na2B5O8(OH) · H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Biringuccite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.1955(7) Å, b = 6.5607(4) Å, c = 20.7566(9) Å
β = 93.891(6)°
β = 93.891(6)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.706 : 1 : 3.164
Unit Cell V:
1,521.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Space group determined on synthetic material.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000418 | Biringuccite | Corazza E, Menchetti S, Sabelli C (1974) The crystal structure of biringuccite, Na4[B10O16(OH)2].2H2O American Mineralogist 59 1005-1015 |  | 1974 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.45 Å | (100) |
| 10.32 Å | (80) |
| 3.05 Å | (55) |
| 3.03 Å | (55) |
| 2.589 Å | (45) |
| 5.18 Å | (40) |
| 2.853 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals | |
| 57 : Other minerals formed by human processes |
Type Occurrence of Biringuccite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Florence, Florence, Italy, 16802/703; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 163785.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
As scales on piping in a geothermal field.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Biringuccite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.EC. | Calcioveatchite | SrCaB11O16(OH)5 · 5H2O |
| 6.EC.05 | Nasinite | Na2[B5O8(OH)] · 2H2O |
| 6.EC.10 | Gowerite | Ca[B5O8(OH)][B(OH)3] · 3H2O |
| 6.EC.15 | 'Veatchite-2M' | Sr2B11O16(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.EC.15 | 'Veatchite-A' | Sr2B11O16(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.EC.15 | Veatchite | Sr2B11O16(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.EC.15 | 'Veatchite-1M' | Sr2B11O16(OH)5 · H2O |
| 6.EC.20 | Volkovskite | KCa4[B5O8OH]4[B(OH)3]2Cl · 4H2O |
| 6.EC.25 | Tuzlaite | NaCaB5O8(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 6.EC.30 | Heidornite | Na2Ca3B5O8(SO4)2Cl(OH)2 |
| 6.EC.35 | Popugaevaite | Ca3[B5O6(OH)6]FCl2 · 8H2O |
| 6.EC.35 | Brianroulstonite | Ca3[B5O6(OH)6](OH)Cl2 · 8H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Biringuccite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-679.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Biringuccite
Reference List:
IMA (1967) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (277) 131-136 doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.277.20
Localities for Biringuccite
Showing 1 localities.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Italy (TL) | |
| Cipriani (1961) +3 other references |
Quick NavTopAbout BiringucciteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities
Larderello, Pomarance, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy