Borate mineral


The Borate Minerals are minerals which contain a borate anion group. The borate units may be polymerised similar to the SiO4 unit of the silicate mineral class. This results in B2O5, B3O6, B2O4 anions as well as more complex structures which include hydroxide or halogen anions. The − anion exists as well.
Many borate minerals, such as borax, colemanite, and ulexite, are salts: soft, readily soluble, and found in evaporite contexts. However, some, such as boracite, are hard and resistant to weathering, more similar to the silicates.
There are over 100 different borate minerals. Borate minerals include:

Nickel–Strunz Classification -06- Borates

IMA-CNMNC proposes a new hierarchical scheme. This list uses it to modify the Classification of Nickel–Strunz. Note that although Nickel–Strunz division letters were traditionally based on the number of boron atoms in a mineral's chemical formula, the IMA has reclassified borate minerals based on the polymerisation of the borate anion.
;Abbreviations:REE: rare-earth element PGE: platinum-group element * : discredited ? : questionable/doubtful
Regarding 03.C Aluminofluorides, 06 Borates, 08 Vanadates, 09 Silicates:neso-: insular soro-: grouped cyclo-: rings of ino-: chained phyllo-: sheets of tekto-: three-dimensional framework
;Nickel–Strunz code scheme NN.XY.##x:NN: Nickel–Strunz mineral class numberX: Nickel–Strunz mineral division letterY: Nickel–Strunz mineral family letter##x: Nickel–Strunz mineral/group number; x an add-on letter

Class: borates

Subclass: nesoborates

Subclass: inoborates

Subclass: phylloborates

Subclass: tektoborates