Tincalconite An
experiment: Borax + heat - water = Tincalconite where the heat is supplied by the environment and serves to evaporate (and thus chemically remove) the water. So naturally, Tincalconite + water = Borax + heat I experimented with a few pieces (experimental pieces are available for $3), and retrieving a piece after 10 seconds in a bowl of water and holding it in your hand results in a very noticeable amount of heat release. The pieces retain their shape but I think the edges become a bit more rounded, so DON'T do this with your favorite display piece. You
can only reliably do that experiment once, so gather everyone around
before you start! I was able to "re-set" some of them
by placing them in a 250-degree oven for 3 hours - this was really too
hot, though, because 1/2 of my pieces crumbled. So I would suggest
a lower temperature (maybe 200-degrees?) for a longer time (maybe overnight?)
If your pieces crumble when you try to reset them, you can still do
an experiment by putting the crumbles into water and showing your audience
that the water gets warmer. History:
TpB11-02
Tincalconite ps Borax $75 This is a large complex piece whose shape resembles a Feldspar.
TpB11-03
Tincalconite ps Borax $80
SOLD This is quite a large and wonderfully complex piece displaying both fine structure and big, sharp, blocky crystals. The yellow visible in the lower right photo seems to be a remnant of the original Borax.
TpB11-04
Tincalconite ps Borax $65
SOLD A nice large piece with some sharp, complex crystals visible in the upper right photo. The yellow visible in the lower photo seems to be a remnant of the original Borax.
TpB11-05
Tincalconite ps Borax $60 SOLD The contrast between the two sides is particularly striking on this one.
TpB11-06
Tincalconite ps Borax $32 This is a fairly large piece, but it does not display as much of the crystal faces as the other large pieces, hence the lower price. It does, however, have a nice patch of fine structure visible in the left photo (especially visible in the larger image) that is slightly yellow due to remnants of the Borax.
TpB11-07
Tincalconite ps Borax $55 A big piece with some very nice large faces at one end and some finer, more complex crystal shapes at the top, better than the photos.
TpB11-08
Tincalconite ps Borax $50
SOLD Another nice large, chunky specimen with some good sharp faces.
TpB11-09
Tincalconite ps Borax $16 A medium-sized piece with a few interesting features front & back.
TpB11-10
Tincalconite ps Borax $22 Another medium-sized piece with some interesting features & some good striations.
TpB11-11
Tincalconite ps Borax $40 SOLD This is my favorite of the medium-sized pieces. It has sharp crystal shapes, nice blocky and fine structure, and distinct striations.
TpB11-12
Tincalconite ps Borax $18 Some nice faces and striations on this medium-sized piece.
TpB11-14
Tincalconite ps Borax $20 A nice blocky little crystal with some good striations on the sides.
TpB11-15
Tincalconite ps Borax $18
SOLD Another blocky little crystal with some good striations and an interesting overall shape.
TpB11-16
Tincalconite ps Borax $17 Good sharp little crystal.
TpB11-17
Tincalconite ps Borax $18 This interesting specimen is less white than the others, and the spots & patches of pink are real. I don't know for sure what causes the pink, but I'm guessing it is algae. Halite from the Searles Lake area is known to turn pink from algal inclusions, and the salt flats that we drive by on 395 in eastern California periodically turn pink.
TpB11-18
Tincalconite ps Borax $12 A smallish piece with good striations.
TpB11-19
Tincalconite ps Borax $21 A decent medium-size piece with interesting faces and striations.
TpB11-20
Tincalconite ps Borax $21 SOLD A weirdly-shaped piece with plenty of faces and striations.
TpB11-21
Tincalconite ps Borax $22 Partial crystal shapes, sharp faces and nice striations.
TpB11-22
Tincalconite ps Borax $18 SOLD Good crystal shapes - large and small - and sharp faces.
TpB11-33
Tincalconite ps Borax $16 SOLD Some nice sharp crystal shapes. Here are some more Tincalconite ps Borax from the Baker mine/U.S. Borax Mine, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kramer District, Kern Co., California:
There are also some pieces suitable for experiments @ $3 each. or select a gallery from the table below:
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