Home > California Borate Minerals – July 22 > MS0966 Nobleite

Nobleite - Sold


Nobleite is a rare calcium borate, isostructural with tunellite. Erd et al. (1961) named the mineral after Dr. Levi Noble (1882-1965), geologist at the United States Geological Survey. Here nobleite forms two stark white spheroids on crystallized colemanite matrix. Because of the transparency difference between the colemanite and nobleite, there is sufficient contrast to rapidly distinguish the mineral from its matrix. This material collected in 1960 by Ralph Merrill; this occurrence and material represents the best of species. This specimen carries a vintage Minerals Unlimited label. These are the largest aggregates of nobleite that the writer has seen.