Barriereita

Barriereita is a mineral belonging to the borate group. It is a hydrated sodium and calcium borate with the chemical formula Na2Ca2B8O13(OH)4. Barriereita was first discovered in the Poudrette quarry, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada, and was named in honor of the French geologist Jean Barrière.

The mineral typically occurs as small, colorless to white crystals, often prismatic or acicular in habit. It is found in association with other rare minerals in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins. Its hardness is relatively low, and it is considered a fragile mineral. Barriereita is a relatively rare mineral, and significant deposits are not widely known. Its geological occurrence is primarily limited to specific alkaline intrusive complexes.

The crystal structure of barriereita is characterized by complex borate polyhedra linked by sodium and calcium cations and water molecules. The identification of barriereita relies on a combination of optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and chemical analysis. It is not a mineral of significant economic importance but is of interest to mineralogists and collectors due to its rarity and unique chemical composition.