| Sassolite | |
| Category: | Borate mineral |
| Formula: | H3BO3 |
| Imasymbol: | Sso[1] |
| Strunz: | 6.AA.05 |
| System: | Triclinic |
| Class: | Pinacoidal (same H-M symbol) |
| Symmetry: | P |
| Unit Cell: | a = 7.02 Å, b = 7.06 Å c = 6.59 Å; α = 103.65° β = 101.11°, γ = 59.98°; Z = 4 |
| Colour: | White to gray, may be pale yellow from included sulfur or pale brown from included iron oxides; colourless in transmitted light |
| Habit: | As scaly pseudohexagonal crystals; ncrustations; platy; tabular; may be stalactitic |
| Twinning: | Around [001] as twin axis, common |
| Cleavage: | Perfect on, micaceous |
| Tenacity: | Sectile |
| Mohs: | 1 |
| Lustre: | Vitreous to pearly |
| Refractive: | nα = 1.340 nβ = 1.456 nγ = 1.459 |
| Opticalprop: | Biaxial (−) |
| Birefringence: | δ = 0.119 |
| 2V: | Measured: 5°, Calculated: 16° |
| Streak: | White |
| Gravity: | 1.46–1.50 |
| Solubility: | Soluble in water |
| Diaphaneity: | Transparent |
| References: | [2] [3] [4] |
Sassolite is a borate mineral, specifically the mineral form of boric acid. It is usually white to gray, and colourless in transmitted light. It can also take on a yellow colour from sulfur impurities, or brown from iron oxides.[2]
Its mineral form was first described in 1800, and was named after Sasso Pisano, Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy where it was found.[4] The mineral may be found in lagoons throughout Tuscany and Sasso.[3] It is also found in the Lipari Islands and the US state of Nevada. It occurs in volcanic fumaroles and hot springs, deposited from steam, as well as in bedded sedimentary evaporite deposits.[2]