Meyerhofferite is a calcium borate mineral typically found as white, prismatic crystals or fibrous, radiating spray aggregates. It is an alteration product of inyoite and is most frequently collected from evaporite borate deposits in arid regions like Death Valley.
Is this meyerhofferite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch meyerhofferite with a known reference. Meyerhofferite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: prismatic, radial, tabular.
Often confused with
Meyerhofferite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside meyerhofferite
Minerals reported to co-occur with meyerhofferite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂B₆O₆(OH)₁₀·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.120 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, radial, tabular
- Cleavage
- On {010}, perfect; in traces on {100} and {110}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- Typically a minor component of sedimentary or lake-bed borate deposits
Where rockhounds find meyerhofferite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mt. Blanco deposit and along Gower Gulch, Furnace Creek district, Death Valley, Inyo Co., and in the Kramer borate deposit, Boron, Kern Co., California, USA
- Mesa del Almo, 13 km southeast of Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico
- Anita mine, Sijes district, and in the Tincalayu borax deposit, Salar del Hombre Muerto, Salta Province, Argentina
- Bigadiç borate district, Balıkesir Province, Turkey
- Killik and Espey borate mines, near Emet, Kütahya Province, Turkey
- Inder borate deposit, Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Typically a minor component of sedimentary or lake-bed borate deposits. If you start seeing inyoite, colemanite, hydroboracite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, radial, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify meyerhofferite?+
Where is meyerhofferite found?+
What rocks look like meyerhofferite?+
What minerals are found with meyerhofferite?+
What kind of rock does meyerhofferite form in?+
What is meyerhofferite used for?+
Find meyerhofferite on the map
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