Colemanite Photos  
Cochise College               
Photos of Minerals
Geology Home Page

Roger Weller, geology instructor

[email protected]    copyright 2010-R.Weller

 
colemanite crystals-1
Colemanite is Ca₂B₆O₁₁.5H₂O
Colemanite is a hydrous calcium borate.  The water content of the colemanite
provides the basis for an interesting story.  A prospector in  the Death Valley area
of California decided to make a campfire to cook his supper.  He gathered up rocks
to surround the campfire and then proceeded to cook his supper.  As the fire
started to warm up the rocks, which turned out to be colemanite, the rocks started
exploding and the prospector ran for cover.  The supper was filled with rock
fragments and was ruined.  The culprit was the water content of colemanite which
converted to steam as the rocks were baked.
   

colemanite                                                                                                                                      20
Photo is copyright free only for non-commercial educational uses.
Just credit photo to R.Weller/Cochise College.