Formed from Magnesium Borate Chloride (Mg3B7O13Cl), the name Boracite comes from the fact that the mineral contains a high content of Boron. It ranks 7 - 7.5 on the Moh’s Scale of hardness and has a Specific Gravity of approximately 2.9 - 3.0. Crystals of Boracite are vitreous, transparent to translucent and occur in a variety of forms. It is also slightly soluble in water.

Boracite is commonly found in marine evaporite environments, which provide the right factors needed for the mineral to form. Boracite is commonly found in association with other evaporite minerals like Anhydrite, Gypsum, Hilgardite, Magnesite and Halite. Its crystals are typically embedded in these other evaporite minerals or vice versa.

Notable amount of Boracite is found in Yorkshire, England; Strassfurt, Germany; France; Bolivia; Chactaw Salt Dome, Louisiana and Otis, California, USA. A variety of Boracite found at Strassfurt, Germany is a fibrous form and is named Strassfurtite, after the locality.

Boracite is easily identified by its crystal habit, color, associations, locality and its high hardness. In industrial applications, Boracite is used as an ore of boron for boric acid and borax (a cleaning agent and useful industrial chemical). Although it has nice color, clarity and the hardness necessary to be used as a gemstone, Boracite is rarely cut for this purpose, because it is slightly soluble in water and ordinary wear dulls its surface. Still, it is a very attractive mineral specimen among collectors.