Inderite

Inderite, also known as Lesserite, is a mineral that was named after its source, the Inder lake, near the Inder Mountains in Kazakhstan.[2] The samples were described in English by the soviet mineralogist Boldyreva in 1937. It is a rare secondary mineral but common in salt, potassium and borate deposits.

Inderite
General
CategoryMineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
IMA symbolIdr[1]
Strunz classification6.CA.15
Dana classification26.3.1.3
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
Space groupP21/b
Unit cell1,041.64 ų
Identification
Formula mass279.85
ColorColorless, white, pink; colorless in transmitted light
CleavagePerfect on {010}, on {110} good
FractureUneven
Mohs scale hardness2.5 - 3
LusterVitreous, greasy, pearly, dull
DiaphaneityTransparent, translucent
Density1.8
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα = 1.488 nβ = 1.491 nγ = 1.505
Birefringence0.017
PleochroismNone
2V angleMeasured 37°, calculated 52°
DispersionWeak, r > v
Ultraviolet fluorescenceNone
SolubilitySoluble in hydrochloric acid
Other characteristicsPearly on cleavages

Crystallography

Inderite is a member of the inderite group, and a dimorph of kurnakovite.[3] It contains boron, hydrogen, magnesium, and oxygen. It can form continuous layers. Deposits include Argentina, China, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, and the USA. It contains 8.69% magnesium, 11.59% boron, 5.40% hydrogen and 74.32% oxygen.

Usage

Inderite is one of the natural borates commonly used in the chemical industry. This hydrated neotriborate is still used in iron metallurgy. It is also used in gemology despite its qualities. Since inderite is very soft, it is hard to cut, but sometimes a cabochon cut is possible. There are a lot of cuttable sized specimens, and although there are only a few mines containing inderite, it is not considered a great rarity. After cutting, inderite's surface can become white and cloudy, hence why it is needed to be dried and properly stored after cutting.[4] It is cleaned with water after cutting as it is insoluble in water, but can be dissolved in hydrochloric acid.[5]

References
  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. "Inderite Mineral Data". webmineral.com. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  3. "Inderite". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  4. "Inderite color stone". Gemstone's Information. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  5. "Inderite", Wikipédia (in French), 2021-01-31, retrieved 2021-04-18
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