Home > California Borate Minerals – July 22 > MS0950 Tunellite

Tunellite - Sold


Tunellite is a rare hydrated strontium borate. The mineral is stable in humid and dry environments and not very water soluble. Erd et al. (1961) named tunellite in honor of George Tunell (1900-1996), professor of mineralogy at the University of California at Los Angeles. Tunellite has monoclinic symmetry and perfect cleavage on {001}; the faces of which display pearly luster. This is a choice example, showing minor incipent cleavage, and minor chipping on the one crystal tip. Such crystals form in a green gray mud which imparts a greenish grayish hue to the crystal. Such fine sharp crystals date to finds made by Los Angeles collectors in the late 1950s. Ex. Ydren collection.