ulexite

[ yoo-lek-sahyt ]

noun

1. a mineral, hydrous sodium and calcium borate, NaCaB 5 O 9 ⋅8H 2 O, occurring in arid regions in the form of white acicular crystals: a major source of borax.

ulexite

/ yo̅o̅′lĭk-sīt′,yo̅o̅-lĕk′- /

1. A white triclinic mineral that forms rounded, reniform (kidney-shaped) masses of very fine needle-shaped crystals. Ulexite has the unusual optical property of projecting an image of an object placed against a transverse section of it to the opposite surface. It is usually associated with borax deposits and is found in arid environments. Chemical formula: NaCaB 5 O 9 ·8H 2 O.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ulexite¹

1865–70; named after George L. Ulex, German chemist; -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The salts contained in these deposits are mainly borax, ulexite, and colemanite.

From Project Gutenberg