Home > Borate Minerals – April 22 > MS1796 Nobleite
Nobleite - Sold
- Corkscrew mine
- Death Valley
- Inyo County
- California
- U.S.A.
- 6.3 × 4.5 × 2.5 cm – Small cabinet specimen (under 10 cm)
Nobleite is a rare calcium borate. Erd et al. (1961) named the mineral after Dr. Levi Noble (1882-1965), geologist at the United States Geological Survey. Kranovič et al. (2004) solved the crystal structure of nobleite, finding a similar borate sheet to that of tunellite, causing a similarity in unit cell dimensions between the two species. The minerals differ in hydrogen bonding and metal coordination.
Nobleite here forms platy colorless crystals to 2 mm completing covering an earlier generation of colemanite. This is a rich example completely covered in this rare borate. A label from Callahan's Gems and Minerals accompanies the specimen.
