Inderite and inderborite at non-ambient conditions

Among hydrated borates, inderite and inderborite are two mineralogical species which display a different H2O content (40 wt% in inderborite and 48 wt% in inderite, respectively). In the last years, our team have studied several hydrated borates, each one displaying one (or more) phase transition at high-pressure in the P-range 1.6-14 GPa. The findings suggest a linear correlation between the H2O content and the pressure at which a hydrated borate undergoes a phase transition, but more studies are needed in order to confirm a real trend. Furthermore, hydrated borates are believed to be a potential aggregate in radiation-shielding concretes due to the large cross section for thermal neutron of the isotope 10B. A comprehensive characterization of the crystal-chemistry, elastic properties, stability and structural behavior of natural borates at varying T and P conditions is advisable for modelling their behavior as aggregates in radiation-shielding concretes.