VIII. Class of Minerals

Borates are minerals that contain the borate anion group and are an extremely complex group of minerals because their basic building units can connect in different ways, similar to silicates. They occur relatively rarely in nature but are represented by a large number of different species due to the many possible combinations in their structure. Borate formation is most commonly associated with the evaporation process, and the best-known borate deposits are found in desert areas. The formation of borates can also be linked to complex metamorphic processes.