Boleite was 1st discovered in Boleo, Mexico in 1891, in a location with the Baja peninsula that is becoming recognized for rare minerals. Boleite is such an unconventional and sophisticated mineral the definition of its chemical composition and crystal structure have been through several revisions since its to start with discovery.
The main specimens of boleite ended up identified by Eduoard Cumenge, a French mining engineer. An additional rare halide mineral within the similar area, with a similar composition and a rather various chemical composition, was named cumengite in honor of Cumenge.
There are numerous attributes of boleite which make it of distinct interest to collectors. For something, it has an unconventional chemical composition, currently being a hydrated lead copper silver chloride hydroxide. It incorporates important quantities of such metals, with about 49% guide, 14% copper and nine% silver. Secondly, it's got an interesting crystal structure, considering the fact that boleite is usually pseudocubically twinned. That's, each dice-like crystal of boleite is actually made up of a few rectangular box-like crystals oriented at appropriate angles to each other. Boleite also has an exceptionally appealing ΛευκόχÏυσα indigo coloration and a few pretty unusual clear crystals are already cut as gemstones.
Boleite in MatrixBoleite in Matrix
Like other halide minerals, for example fluorite, boleite is quite comfortable, having a Mohs ΛευκόχÏυσα hardness score of only three to 3.five. It has a vitreous to pearly luster. It truly is an unusually ΧειÏοποίητα Δαχτυλίδια dense mineral, with a specific gravity of 5.05. Only some minerals, like Δαχτυλιδια swarovski hematite and cassiterite, have an increased density. Boleite's refractive index is additionally pretty large at two.03-2.05; increased than sapphire, sphene and demantoid garnet.
In addition to cumengite, There are a variety of other minerals linked to boleite, such as pseudoboleite, chloroxiphite, paralaurionite, matlockite, chlorargyrite, bideauxite, atacamite, mendipite and diaboleite.
Besides the deposit in Baja, Mexico, boleite continues to be present in Damaged Hill ΧειÏοποίητα Δαχτυλίδια in New South Wales, Australia; in the Mammoth District of Arizona in The usa; and during the Mendip Hills of Somerset, England.
