boracite

American  

[bawr-uh-sahyt, bohr-] / ˈbɔr əˌsaɪt, ˈboʊr- /

noun

1. a strongly pyroelectric mineral, a borate and chloride of magnesium, Mg 6 Cl 2 B 14 O 26 , occurring in white or colorless cubic crystals or fine-grained masses.

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boracite British  

/ ˈbɔːrəˌsaɪt /

noun

1. a white mineral that forms salt deposits of magnesium borate and chloride in orthorhombic crystalline form. Formula: Mg 3 ClB 7 O 13

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Etymology

Origin of boracite

1800–10; borac- (stem of borax ¹ ) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Various explanations have been offered to account for these “optical anomalies” of boracite.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 2 "Bohemia" to "Borgia, Francis" by Various

For example, boracite forms pseudo-cubic crystals which become truly cubic at 265�, with a distinct change in density; leucite behaves similarly at about 560�.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various

Tetrahedrite, blende, diamond, boracite and pharmacosiderite are substances which crystallize in this class.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

When such water evaporates, it becomes concentrated, along with the magnesium and potassium salts, in the "mother liquor"; and upon complete evaporation, it crystallizes out as boracite and other rarer minerals.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

In boracite there are four uniterminal triad axes, and the faces of the two tetrahedra perpendicular to them will bear opposite charges.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various