Sinhalite

{{Short description|Borate mineral}}

{{About|the mineral|the racehorse|Sinhalite (horse)}}

{{Infobox mineral

| name = Sinhalite

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| IMAsymbol = Shl{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}

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| system = Orthorhombic

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| color = White, gray, grayish-blue, pale to dark brown, yellow, yellowish-brown, greenish-brown, green, brownish-pink, pale pink

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| habit = Grains, rolled pebbles, irregular masses. Rarely euhedral crystals.

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| cleavage = None

| fracture = Conchoidal

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| mohs = {{frac|6|1|2}}-7

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| streak = White

| diaphaneity = Transparent, translucent

| gravity = 3.46 to 3.50

| density = 3.475-3.5

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| opticalprop = Biaxial (-)

| refractive = 1.665 to 1.712

| birefringence = 0.036 to 0.042

| pleochroism = Trichroism: green, light brown, dark brown

| 2V = 56°

| dispersion = 0.018

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Sinhalite is a borate mineral with formula MgAl(BO₄).{{cite web |url=https://www.mindat.org/min-3672.html |title=Sinhalite |publisher=Mindat.org}}

Sinhalite was first found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in 1952, and was named from Sinhala - the Sanskrit name for Sri Lanka.{{cite web |title=Sinhalite gemstone information |url=https://www.gemdat.org/gem-3672.html |website=Gemdat.org |accessdate=21 March 2019}}

Gemstone quality Sinhalite can also be found in Madagascar, Tanzania and Myanmar (Burma). The most commonly seen color of Sinhalite are white to gray, grayish-blue or a shade of brown ranging from pale to dark. Pale pink and brownish pink crystals can be found in Tanzania.