Arcanite (original) (raw)

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

About ArcaniteHide

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Colour:

Colourless, white, yellow

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Name:

Named in 1845 by Wilhelm Carl von Haidinger from the Latin "arcanum duplicatum," for double secret, a medieval alchemical name. The original material was an exudate on the surface of discarded railroad track ties that had been used in the Santa Ana tin mine, Trabuco Canyon, Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County, California, USA.

Arcanite-Mascagnite Series.

This species was described and named based on artificial material and the type occurrence, which is anthropogenic (pine rail tie in a mine). It has since been identified in nature.

NOTE: Well-crystalline specimens on the market (e.g. those labelled from Poland, or anything that looks better than the photos of natural material at the head of this page) are grown artificially and are not natural minerals. See also spessartine arcanite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:314:6

0f184efa-cd08-4e3d-aab0-419843a4267a

IMA Classification of ArcaniteHide

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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

Type description reference:

Classification of ArcaniteHide

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7.AD.05

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations

28.2.1.2

28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
2 : A2XO4

25.1.4

25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium

Mineral SymbolsHide

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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Physical Properties of ArcaniteHide

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Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Colour:

Colourless, white, yellow

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
On {010} and {001}.

Density:

2.663 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.667 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of ArcaniteHide

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RI values:

_n_α = 1.494 _n_β = 1.495 _n_γ = 1.497

2V:

Measured: 67° , Calculated: 70°

δ = 0.004

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Chemistry of ArcaniteHide

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Crystallography of ArcaniteHide

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Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) - Dipyramidal

Cell Parameters:

a = 5.77 Å, b = 10.07 Å, c = 7.48 Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.573 : 1 : 0.743

Unit Cell V:

434.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Thin tablets comprised of sixling cyclic twins bounded by {001}, {011}, and {112} (Santa Ana Mine). Artificial crystals frequently twinned.

Twinning:

On {110}, cyclic at times; pseudo-hexagonal groupings.

Comment:

Space Group: P nam (synthetic)

Crystal StructureHide

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ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0009456	Arcanite	McGinnety J A (1972) Redetermination of the structures of potassium sulphate and potassium chromate: the effect of electrostatic crystal forces upon observed bond length Acta Crystallographica B28 2845-2852		1972	0	293
0018287	Arcanite	Robinson M (1958) The crystal structures of beta-K2SO4 and of beta-K2PO3F _cod_database_code 1200011 Journal of Physical Chemistry 62 925-928	1958	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Powder Diffraction Data:

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Type Occurrence of ArcaniteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

University of California, Berkeley, California; Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 100763.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Reference:

Haidinger, W. (1845) Erste Klasse: Akrogenide. IV. Ordnung. Salze. XIII. Pikrochylinsalz. Arcanit. in: Handbuch der bestimmenden Mineralogie, Vienna, 487-492.

Synonyms of ArcaniteHide

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Other Language Names for ArcaniteHide

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Varieties of ArcaniteHide

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Relationship of Arcanite to other SpeciesHide

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Common AssociatesHide

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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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Other InformationHide

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Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for ArcaniteHide

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References for ArcaniteHide

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Reference List:

**Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.**pp.399-400

Localities for ArcaniteHide

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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.