Teepleite is a rare borate mineral typically found as small, colorless to yellowish tabular crystals within saline evaporite deposits. It is best identified by its occurrence in specific dry lake bed environments associated with other boron minerals like borax.
Is this teepleite?
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 teepleite with a known reference. Teepleite sits at Mohs 3-3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Teepleite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Teepleite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, sometimes in crusts or granular aggregates.
Often confused with
Teepleite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside teepleite
Minerals reported to co-occur with teepleite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂B(OH)₄Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 2.08 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Sometimes in Crusts or Granular Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Evaporite Deposits in Saline Lake Beds
- Typical price
- $20-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find teepleite
Classic worldwide localities
- Borax Lake, California, USA
- Searles Lake, California, USA
- Inder boron deposit, Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite deposits in saline lake beds country — that is the host setting where teepleite typically forms. If you start seeing borax, halite, gaylussite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, sometimes in crusts or granular aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find teepleite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
