a nonmetallic element occurring abundantly in borax. it is reduced with difficulty to the free state, when it can be obtained in several different forms; viz., as a substance of a deep olive color, in a semimetallic form, and in colorless quadratic crystals similar to the diamond in hardness and other properties. it occurs in nature also in boracite, datolite, tourmaline, and some other minerals. atomic weight 10.9. symbol b.