Boralsilite

boralsilite

dravite

dumortierite

werdingite

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Formula: Al16B6O30(Si2O7 )
Sorosilicate (Si2O7 groups), boron-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 3.07 calculated
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless
Environments

Pegmatites
Metamorphic environments

Boralsilite forms colourless prisms up to 2 mm long and 0.25 mm across and is commonly euhedral in cross section. It is estimated to have formed between 600oC and 750oC and a pressure of 3 to 5 kbar (AM 83.638-651).

Localities

There are two co-type localities, Stornes Peninsula, Larsemann Hills, Prydz Bay, Ingrid Christensen Coast, Princess Elizabeth Land, Eastern Antarctica, and Almgjotheii, Flatestøl, Lund, Rogaland, Norway.

At Stornes Peninsula, Larsemann Hills, Prydz Bay, Ingrid Christensen Coast, Princess Elizabeth Land, Eastern Antarctica, boralsilite is a high-temperature phase in pegmatites cutting granulite-facies metapelitic rocks.
A stable assemblage is quartz - K-feldspar - boralsilite - schorl/dravite (AM 83.638-651).

At Almgjotheii, Flatestøl, Lund, Rogaland, Norway, boralsilite occurs in the contact aureole of the intrusive complex. Stable assemblages include
(1) K-feldspar - plagioclase - boralsilite - werdingite - dumortierite - grandidierite
(2) quartz - K-feldspar - boralsilite - dumortierite - andalusite +/- sillimanite
The composition of the Almgjotheii material appears to result from solid solution of boralsilite with sillimanite and subordinate werdingite (AM 83.638-651).

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