Brokenhillite: Properties and Occurrences Brokenhillite is an earth mineral that exists in small quantities. It is only found in the far-western regions of New South Wales in Broken Hill,…
Brammallite: Properties and Occurrences Brammallite is a sodium-rich analog of illite, formula: (Na, H3O)(Al, Mg, Fe)2(Si, Al)4O10 [(OH)2·(H2O)]. The mineral is a sodium-rich illite mica and has subsequently been…
Bowenite: Properties and Occurrence Bowenite is a hard, compact variety of the serpentinite species antigorite, (Mg3(OH)O4Si2O5). Historically it was used for tools, weapons, and ornaments, although modern use is…
Red Beryl Red beryl (formerly known as “bixbite”) is a red variety of beryl. It was first described in 1904 as an occurrence, its type locality, at…
Bentonite: Properties and Occurrences Bentonite is an absorbent aluminum phyllosilicate clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite. It was named by Wilbur C. Knight in 1898 after the Cretaceous Benton Shale…
Bauxite: Properties and Occurrences Bauxite, an aluminum ore, is the world’s main source of aluminum. It is not a mineral. It is a rock formed from a laterite soil…
Barbertonite Barbertonite is a magnesium chromium carbonate mineral with the formula of [Mg6Cr2(OH)16CO3·4H2O]. It was named after the Barberton district in South Africa, where it first…
Bystrite: Properties and Occurrences Bystrite is a silicate mineral with the formula (Na, K)7Ca(Si6Al6)O24S4.5•(H2O), and a member of the cancrinite mineral group. It is a silicate mineral and a…
Bustamite: Properties and Occurrences Bustamite is a calcium manganese inosilicate (chain silicate) and a member of the wollastonite group. It was named after General Anastasio Bustamente (1780-1853), of Mexico.…
Bunsenite: Properties and Occurrences Bunsenite is the naturally occurring form of nickel(II) oxide, NiO. It occurs as rare dark green crystal coatings. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system…
Bultfonteinite Bultfonteinite, originally dutoitspanite, is pink to the colorless mineral with chemical formula Ca2SiO2(OH, F)4. It was named after the type locality at Bultfontein in the…
Bukovskyite Bukovskyite (also known as “clay of Kutná Hora”) is an iron arsenate sulfate mineral with formula: Fe2(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)·7H2O which forms nodules with a reniform (kidney-shaped) surface.…