Howlite

{{Short description|Inoborate mineral}} {{Infobox mineral | name = Howlite | category = Inoborates | image = Howlite.jpg | imagesize = 260px | caption = | formula = Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5 | IMAsymbol = How<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}</ref> | strunz = 6.CB.20 | dana = 25.3.5.1 | system = Monoclinic | class = Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) | symmetry = ''P2''1/c | unit cell = a = 12.82 Å, b = 9.351(1) Å c = 8.608(2) Å; β = 104.84(2)°; Z = 4 | color = White, colorless | habit = Massive to nodular, occurs as tabular prisms flattened parallel to [100] | twinning = | cleavage = None | fracture = Conchoidal, uneven | mohs = 3.5 | luster = Subvitreous, glimmering | refractive = nα = 1.583 – 1.586 nβ = 1.596 – 1.598 nγ = 1.600 | opticalprop = Biaxial (−), colorless (transmitted light) | 2V = 73° | birefringence = δ = 0.017 | pleochroism = | streak = white | gravity = 2.53 – 2.59 | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = | diaphaneity = Translucent | other = | references = <ref name=Handbook>{{cite web|url=http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/howlite.pdf|title=Handbook of Mineralogy}}</ref><ref name=Mindat>{{cite web|url=http://www.mindat.org/min-1936.html|title=Howlite: Howlite mineral information and data.|website=www.mindat.org}}</ref><ref name=Webmineral>{{cite web|url=http://webmineral.com/data/Howlite.shtml|title=Howlite Mineral Data|first=Dave|last=Barthelmy|website=webmineral.com}}</ref> }}

'''Howlite''', a calcium borosilicate hydroxide (Ca2B5Si O9(OH)5), is a borate mineral found in evaporite deposits.<ref name=MinGalleries>[http://www.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/howlite/howlite.htm Howlite] at Mineral Galleries</ref>

== History == Howlite was discovered near Windsor, Nova Scotia, in 1868 by Henry How (1828–1879), a Canadian chemist, geologist, and mineralogist.<ref name=Philosophical>H. How, "Contributions to the Mineralogy of Nova Scotia, Pt. III, Borates and Other Minerals in Anhydrite and Gypsum," Philosophical Magazine, January 1868</ref><ref name=Ramik>Ramik, Robert A., "Lost and Found: one of Canada's earliest type mineral localities", The 32nd Rochester Mineralogical Symposium, Program and abstracts, Rochester, New York, April 14–17, 2005.</ref> How was alerted to the unknown mineral by miners in a gypsum quarry, who found it to be a nuisance. He called the new mineral silico-boro-calcite; it was given the name howlite by the American geologist James Dwight Dana shortly thereafter.

==Geology== The most common form of howlite is irregular nodules, sometimes resembling cauliflower. Crystals of howlite are rare, having been found in only a couple localities worldwide. Crystals were first reported from Tick Canyon in the Sierra Pelona Mountains of California,<ref name=Murdoch>Murdoch, J., "Crystallography and X-ray measurement of howlite from California", American Mineralogist, 42, 521–524, 1957.</ref> and later at Iona, Nova Scotia. Crystals reach a maximum size of about one centimeter.<ref name=Handbook/> The nodules are white with fine grey or black veins in an erratic, often web-like pattern, opaque with a sub-vitreous luster. The crystals at Iona are colorless, white or brown and are often translucent or transparent.

Its structure is monoclinic with a Mohs hardness of 3.5 and lacks regular cleavage. Crystals are prismatic and flattened on {100}.<ref name=Murdoch/> The crystals from Tick Canyon are elongated along the 010 axis, while those from Iona are elongated along the 001 axis.

==Jewelry== Howlite is commonly used to make decorative objects such as small carvings or jewelry components. Because of its porous texture, howlite can be easily dyed to imitate other minerals, especially turquoise because of the superficial similarity of the veining patterns. Howlite is also sold in its natural state, sometimes under the trade names of "white turquoise" or "white buffalo turquoise," or the derived name "white buffalo stone" and is used to produce jewelry similar to how turquoise is used. Varieties of the unrelated gemstone turquoise which are white instead of the typical blue or green color have been mined in the US States of Arizona and Nevada, and are also marketed as "white buffalo turquoise". Most of the white varieties of turquoise are chalk-like with a Mohs hardness of 1, and are not as hard or durable as howlite, and subsequently require stabilization in order to be used in jewelry, which has resulted in howlite being more popular for use in jewelry than the artificially stabilized white forms of the mineral turquoise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.durangosilver.com/white-turquoise.html|title=White Turquoise Facts – Durango Silver Company|website=www.durangosilver.com}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery>

Image:Howlite-BYU.jpg|'''Howlite''', as collected, southern California. Image:Howlite - tumble polished stone.jpg|A polished mass showing veining. Image:Howlite Crystal Form Nova Scotia.gif|Form of howlite crystals from Iona, Nova Scotia. Image:Howlite Crystal Form California.gif|Form of howlite crystals from Tick Canyon, California. Image:Howlite - turkenite.jpg|Howlite artificially colored in blue, and sold under the name turquenite. Image:Howlite-bolo.jpg|Howlite and Silver Bolo tie with small inclusions of tiny, brownish howlite crystals. This howlite specimen is from Tick Canyon Image:Elephant carved from howlite Length 10 cm arp.jpg|Elephant carved from howlite. Length 10 cm (4 in). </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== *Palache, P.; Berman H.; Frondel, C. (1960). "''Dana's System of Mineralogy, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. (Seventh Edition)"'' John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, pp. 362–363.

Category:Inoborates Category:Monoclinic minerals Category:Minerals in space group 14