- Kernite
Kernite, also known as rasorite is a hydrated
sodium borate hydroxide mineral with formula Na2B4O6(OH)2·3H2O. It is a colorless to whitemineral crystallizing in themonoclinic crystal system typically occurring as prismatic to acicular crystals or granular masses. It is relatively soft withMohs hardness of 2.5 to 3 and light with aspecific gravity of 1.91. It exhibits perfect cleavage and a brittle fracture. Kernite is used to produceborax which can be used in a variety of soaps.The mineral was discovered in 1926 in
Kern County, California and later named for the county. Kern County was the only known source of kernite for many years but is now mined inArgentina ,Spain , andTurkey . It occurs in sedimentaryevaporite deposits in arid regions.References
* [http://www.mindat.org/min-2188.html Mindat with location data]
* [http://webmineral.com/data/Kernite.shtml Webmineral data]
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