Home > California Borate Minerals – July 22 > MS0965 Nobleite
Nobleite - Sold
- Corkscrew mine
- Death Valley
- Inyo County
- California
- U.S.A.
- 5.2 by 3.3 by 3.1 cm – Miniature specimen (fits into a 5 cm cube)
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. Nobleite forms microscopic rhombic crystals with a pearly luster in one direction. This specimen dates to finds in 1960, when the richest material was found. There is an undesignated label from the Ydren collection also present. The white nobleite crystals are mostly 2 mm across, overgrowing a matrix of 3 mm colemanite crystals. This is an exceedingly rich specimen.
