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Arcanite

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Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure (Main Fracture) eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Oblast', Far-Eastern Region, Russia
© Sergey Vasiliev

Show Arcanite Photos (3)
Formula:
K
 
2
SO
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, white
Hardness:2
Name:From the Latin "arcanum duplicatum," for double secret, a medieval alchemical name.


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.

Classification of Arcanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/A.07-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.AD.05

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:28.2.1.2

28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
2 : A2XO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.1.4

25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium
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Type Occurrence of Arcanite

Type Locality:Santa Ana Mine, Trabuco Canyon, Orange Co., California, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:Thin tablets in wood.
Year of Discovery:1845
Geological Setting of type material:Not applicable.

Physical Properties of Arcanite

Colour:Colourless, white
Hardness (Mohs):2
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {010} and {001}.
Density (measured):2.663 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.7 g/cm3

Crystallography of Arcanite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 5.77Å, b = 10.07Å, c = 7.48Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.573 : 1 : 0.743
Unit Cell Volume: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.

Optical Data of Arcanite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.494 nβ = 1.495 nγ = 1.497
2V:Measured: 67° , Calculated: 70°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.004

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v strong

Chemical Properties of Arcanite

Formula:
K
 
2
SO
 
4
Essential elements:K, O, S
All elements listed in formula:K, O, S

Relationship of Arcanite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Mascagnite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.AD.05Mascagnite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
SO
 
4
7.AD.10Mercallite
KHSO
 
4
7.AD.15Misenite
K
 
8
H
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
7.AD.20Letovicite
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
H(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AD.25Glauberite
Na
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AD.30Anhydrite
CaSO
 
4
7.AD.35Anglesite
PbSO
 
4
7.AD.35Baryte
BaSO
 
4
7.AD.35Celestine
SrSO
 
4
7.AD.35Olsacherite
Pb
 
2
SO
 
4
SeO
 
4
7.AD.40Kalistrontite
K
 
2
Sr(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AD.40Palmierite
(K,Na)
 
2
Pb(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.1.1Thenardite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.2Matteuccite
NaHSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
25.1.3Mirabilite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
·10H
 
2
O
25.1.5Mercallite
KHSO
 
4
25.1.6Misenite
K
 
8
H
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
25.1.7Aphthitalite
(K,Na)
 
3
Na(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.1.8Mascagnite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.9Letovicite
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
H(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.1.10Ammonioalunite
(NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2

Other Names for Arcanite

Synonyms:
ArkaniteSulfate of Potash
Other Languages:
French:Potasse sulfatée
German:Arcanit
Arkanit
Kalisulphat
Schwefelsaures Kali
Russian:Арканит
Spanish:Arcanita
Arkanita
Varieties:
Taylorite (of Dana)

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 Arcanite

Reference List:Haidinger, Wm. (1845) Handbuch der bestimmenden Mineralogie. Vienna: 492.

Tutton (1895) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 24: 5.

Eakle (1908) Bulletin of the Department of Geology, University of California: 5: 232.

Ogg (1928) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 5: 354.

Frondel, C. (1950) American Mineralogist: 35: 596.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 399-400.

Acta Crystallographica: B28: 2845-2852.

Canadian Mineralogist (1985): 23: 259.

Internet Links for Arcanite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Arcanite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Arcanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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    Localities for Arcanite

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