Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Ikaite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.



Formula:
CaCO
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
System:Monoclinic
Name:For the type locality Ika Fjord, Greenland.


Readily dehydrates to calcite above 8°C.
The resulting pseudomorph of calcite after ikaite is also called "glendonite."

Classification of Ikaite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/D.01-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.CB.25

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
Dana 8th edition ID:15.1.4.1

15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.4.5

11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2007.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Ikaite

Type Locality:Ikka-Grønnedal complex, Ikka Firth (Ika fjord), Ivittuut (Ivigtut), Arsuk Firth, Arsuk, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
Year of Discovery:1962

Occurrences of Ikaite

Geological Setting:Forms in sea water and lake water in anerobic, organic-rich periglacial and glaciomarine environments near 0°C, readily converting to calcite at higher temperatures.

Crystallography of Ikaite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.87Å, b = 8.23Å, c = 11.02Å
β = 110.2°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.078 : 1 : 1.339
Unit Cell Volume:V 754.98 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Ikaite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.455 nβ = 1.538 nγ = 1.545
2V:Measured: 45° , Calculated: 30°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.090

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:distinct

Chemical Properties of Ikaite

Formula:
CaCO
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Ca, H, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, H, O

Relationship of Ikaite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.CB.05Thermonatrite
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
5.CB.10Natron
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
 · 10H
 
2
O
5.CB.15Trona
Na
 
3
H(CO
 
3
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
5.CB.20Monohydrocalcite
CaCO
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
5.CB.30Pirssonite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
5.CB.35Gaylussite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
5.CB.40Chalconatronite
Na
 
2
Cu(CO
 
3
)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
5.CB.45Baylissite
K
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
5.CB.50Tuliokite
Na
 
6
BaTh(CO
 
3
)
 
6
 · 6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.4.1Calcite
CaCO
 
3
11.4.2Aragonite
CaCO
 
3
11.4.3Vaterite
CaCO
 
3
11.4.4Monohydrocalcite
CaCO
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
11.4.6Dolomite
CaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.4.7Huntite
CaMg
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
11.4.8Sergeevite
Ca
 
2
Mg
 
11
(CO
 
3
)
 
13
 · 10H
 
2
O

Other Names for Ikaite

Synonyms:
IMA1962-005
Other Languages:
German:Ikait
Russian:Икаит
Spanish:Ikaita

Other Information

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

References for Ikaite

Reference List:

- +
Pauly, H. (1963) “Ikaite”, a new mineral from Greenland. Arctic, 16, 263–264.

American Mineralogist (1964): 49: 439.

Dickens, B. and Brown, W.E. (1970): The crystal structure of calcium carbonate hexahydrate at ~120°C. Inorganic Chemistry, 9, 480–486.

Suess, E., Balzer, W., Hesse, K.-F., Muller, P.J., Ungerer, C.A., and Wefer, G. (1982): Calcium carbonate hexahydrate from organic rich sediments of the Antarctic shelf: precursors of glendonites. Science, 216, 1128–1131.

Hesse, K. -F., Kuppers, H., Suess, E. (1983): Refinement of the structure of Ikaite, CaCO3.6H2O. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 163, 227-231.

Bischoff, J.L, Fitzpatrick, J.A., and Rosenbauer, R.J. (1992): The solubility and stabilization of ikaite (CaCO3.6H2O) from 0° to 25°C: Environmental and paleoclimatic implications for thinolite tufa. Journal of Geology, 101, 21–33.

Bischoff, J. L., Stine, S., Rosenbauer, R. J., Fitzpatrick, J. A., Stafford Jr, T. W. (1993): Ikaite precipitation by mixing of shoreline springs and lake water, Mono Lake, California, USA. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 57, 3855-3856.

Buchardt, B., Seaman, P., Stockmann, G., Wilken, M.V.U., Duwel, L., Kristiansen, A., Jenner, C., Whiticar, M. J., Kristensen R.M., Petersen, G.H., and Thorbjorn, L. (1997): Submarine columns of ikaite tufa. Nature, 390, 129–130.

Dieckmann, G. S., Nehrke, G., Papadimitriou, S., Göttlicher, J., Steininger, R., Kennedy, H., Wolf-Gladrow, D., and Thomas, D. N. (2008): Calcium carbonate as ikaite crystals in Antarctic sea ice. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L08501.

M. B. Oehlerich, N. Sánchez-Pastor, C. Mayr, B. Kremer, E. Griesshaber, W. W. Schmahl, A. Lücke, C. Ohlendorf and B. Zolitschka (2009): On the Study of Natural and Synthetic Ikaite Crystals. Macla 11, 135-136. [http://www.ehu.es/sem/macla_pdf/macla11/Macla11_135.pdf]

Dieckmann, GS; Nehrke, G; Uhlig, C; Gottlicher, J; Gerland, S; Granskog, MA; Thomas, DN. (2010): Brief Communication: Ikaite (CaCO3.6H2O) discovered in Arctic sea ice. CRYOSPHERE 4 (2), 227-230.

Žák K., Skála R., Filippi M., Plášil J. (2010): Ikait - málo známý minerál zaledněných jeskyní: výskyt v občasném sezónním zalednění jeskyně Koda (Český kras). Bulletin mineralogicko-petrologického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze 18 (1), 109-115. [Ikaite on surface of seasonal cave ice formations]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikaite [many further references]

Internet Links for Ikaite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Ikaite on Google
  • Look for Ikaite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Ikaite on Webmineral
  • Look for Ikaite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Ikaite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Ikaite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Ikaite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Find Ikaite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • Search for - Ikaite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Ikaite specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
    • Specimens:The following Ikaite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
    Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Ikaite

    The 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.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
    		Dieckmann, G. S., Nehrke, G., Papadimitriou, S., Göttlicher, J., Steininger, R., Kennedy, H., Wolf-Gladrow, D., and Thomas, D. N. (2008): Calcium carbonate as ikaite crystals in Antarctic sea ice. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L08501.
    • Western Antarctica
      • Antarctic Peninsula
    		AmMin 86:1530-1533 (2001)
    Dieckmann, G. S., Nehrke, G., Papadimitriou, S., Göttlicher, J., Steininger, R., Kennedy, H., Wolf-Gladrow, D., and Thomas, D. N. (2008): Calcium carbonate as ikaite crystals in Antarctic sea ice. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L08501.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
        • Beroun (Beraun)
    		Žák K., Skála R., Filippi M., Plášil J. (2010): Ikait - málo známý minerál zaledněných jeskyní: výskyt v občasném sezónním zalednění jeskyně Koda (Český kras). Bulletin mineralogicko-petrologického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze 18 (1), 109-115.
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Arsuk
        • Arsuk Firth
          • Ivittuut (Ivigtut)
            • Ikka Firth (Ika fjord)
    		Am Min 49 (1964), 439
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido
      • Tokachi Province
        • Ashoro-cho (Asyoro-tyo)
    		Genko. 91(6). 209-219
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/khib.htm
          • White Sea Coast
    		Jan Styer-Gold specimen and photo
    USA
     
    • California
      • Mono Co.
    		Geology 21:971-974.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 25th Apr 2013 11:23:18
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds