Ice
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Formula:
H2O
Colour:
Colourless to white, pale blue to greenish blue in thick layers
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1½
Specific Gravity:
0.9167
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
From Old English is, from Proto-Germanic *isa-.
Stable as a solid under 0°C (at standard atmospheric pressure). There are many different structural varieties of ice, although the standard form found on earth is Ih (hexagonal ice) as described here.
It is now confirmed that water ice is also extraterrestrial, occurring on the Moon, Mars and (most likely) Mercury. Long suggested to occur in the coments, it was spotted on the surface of the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko comet.
Low-temperature ordering of water in opal into ice-like structure, in particular to its cubic modification, is described by Eckert et al. (2015).
It is now confirmed that water ice is also extraterrestrial, occurring on the Moon, Mars and (most likely) Mercury. Long suggested to occur in the coments, it was spotted on the surface of the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko comet.
Low-temperature ordering of water in opal into ice-like structure, in particular to its cubic modification, is described by Eckert et al. (2015).
Classification of Ice
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
4/A.01-10
4.AA.05
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
A : Cation:Anion (M:O) = 2:1 (and 1.8:1)
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
A : Cation:Anion (M:O) = 2:1 (and 1.8:1)
4.1.2.1
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
1 : A2X
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
1 : A2X
7.1.1
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
1 : Oxides of hydrogen
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
1 : Oxides of hydrogen
Physical Properties of Ice
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless to white, pale blue to greenish blue in thick layers
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1½ on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Translation gliding:
(0001)
Density:
0.9167 g/cm3 (Measured) 0.93 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Ice
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.309 nε = 1.311
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.001
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemical Properties of Ice
Formula:
H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Ice
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Setting:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.498 Å, c = 7.338 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.631
Unit Cell V:
128.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Usualy as snow crystals, in complex six-rayed stellate forms of great variety, flattened {0001}. Delicate skeletal forms or hopper-shaped prisms as hoar frost. Lathlike crystals, greatly elongated at times, by crystallization on the surface of water.
Twinning:
Twin plane (α): {0001}, and (b): {0001¯}.
Other Language Names for Ice
Varieties of Ice
| Snow | An airborne variety of Ice, formed of very complex flat hexagonal crystals. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
| 4.AA.10 | Cuprite | Cu2O |
| 4.AA.15 | Paramelaconite | Cu2Cu2O3 |
Other Information
Magnetism:
Diamagnetic
Health Risks:
References for Ice
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Kepler, J. (1611) Strena seu de nive sexangula. ["New Year's gift or about the hexangular snow", in Latin, probably the first description of the hexagonal symmetry of snow crystals]
Hellmann, G. (1893) Schneekrystalle. Verlag von Rudolf Mückenberger, Berlin, 66 pp. [http://gdz.sub.uni-goettingen.de/no_cache/dms/load/img/?IDDOC=320734]
Dobrowolski (1916) Ark. Kemi: 6(7).
Mügge (1918) Centralblatt für Mineralogie: 187.
Adams (1930) Royal Society of London, Proceedings: 128: 588.
Bernal, J.D., Fowler, R.H. (1933) A theory of water and ionic solution, with particular reference to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. Journal of Chemical Physics: 1(8): 515-548.
Blackwelder, E. (1939) The hardness of ice. American Journal of Science: 238: 61-62.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1944) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 494-498.
Hall, D., Wood, M.K. (1985) A molecular-packing analysis of the crystal structures of ice. Acta Crystallographica: 41: 169-172.
Aoki, K., Yamawaki, H., Sakashita, M., Fujihisa, S. (1996) Infrared absorption study of the hydrogen-bond symmetrization in ice to 110 GPa. Physical Review B: 54: 15673-15677.
Goncharov, A.F., Struzhkin, V.V., Somayazulu, M.S., Hemley, R.J., Mao, H.K. (1996) Compression of ice to 210 gigapascals: Infrared evidence for s symmetric hydrogen-bonded phase. Science: 273-218-220.
Wolanin, E., Pruzan, P., Chervin, J.C., Canny, B., Gauthier, M., Hausermann, D., Hanfland, M. (1997) Equation of state of ice VII up to 106GPa. Physical Review B: 56: 5781-5785.
www.its.caltech.edu
Cabot, N.L., Ernst, C.M., Denevi, B.W., Nair, H., Deutsch, A.N., Blewett, D.T., Murchie, S.L., Neumann, G.A., Mazarico, E., Paige, D.A., Harmon, J.K., Head, J.W., Solomon, S.C. (2014): Images of surface volatiles in Mercury's polar craters acquired by the MESSENGER spacecraft. Geology: 42(12): 1051-1054; http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G35916.1
Eckert, J., Gourdon, O., Jacob, D.E., Meral, C., Monteiro, P.J.M., Vogel, S.C., Wirth, R., Wenk, H.-R. (2015) Ordering of water in opals with different microstructures. European Journal of Mineralogy: 27: 203-213.
Filacchione, G., De Sanctis, M.C., Capaccioni, F., Raponi, A., Tosi, F., Ciarniello, M., Cerroni, P., Piccioni, G., Capria, M.T., Palomba, E., Bellucci, G., Erard, S., Bockelee-Morvan, D., Leyrat, C., Arnold, G., Barucci, M.A., Fulchignoni, M., Schmitt, B., Quirico, E., Jaumann, R., Stephan, K., Longobardo, A., Mennella, V., Migliorini, A., Ammannito, A., Benkhoff, J., Bibring, J.P., Blanco, A., Blecka, M.I., Carlson, R., Carsenty, U., Colangeli, L., Combes, M., Combi, M., Crovisier, J., Drossart, P., Encrenaz, T., Federico, C., Fink, U., Fonti, S., Irwin, W.H.Ip.P., Kuehrt, E., Langevin, Y., Magni, G., McCord, T., Moroz, L., Mottola, S., Orofino, V., Schade, U., Taylor, F., Tiphene, D., Tozzi, G.P., Beck, P., Biver, N., Bonal, L., Combe, J.-Ph., Despan, D., Flamini, E., Formisano, M., Fornasier, S., Frigeri, A., Grassi, D., Gudipati, M.S., Kappel, D., Mancarella, F., Markus, K., Merlin, F., Orosei, R., Rinaldi, G., Cartacci, M., Cicchetti, A., Giuppi, S., Hello, Y., Henry, F., Jacquinod, S., Reess, J.M., Noschese, R., Politi, R., Peter, G. (2016): Exposed water ice on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Nature: 529: 368-372; http://phys.org/news/2016-01-ice-surface-comet-67p.html doi:10.1038/nature16190
Internet Links for Ice
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2001.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Ice
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.
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.
(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? 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.
Austria | |
| G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995 |
| G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995 |
| A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs, 1989 |
| A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989) |
| A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs, 1989 |
| A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs, 1989 |
| A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs, 1989 |
| http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachstein-Rieseneish%C3%B6hle |
Belgium | |
| |
Canada | |
| Gait, R.I., Robinson, G.W., Bailey, K., Dumka, D. (1990) Minerals of the Nanasivik Mine, Baffin Island, North West Territories. Mineralogical Record, 21 (6), 515-534. Ice is photoed and mentioned in this reference on pg 519, 522, and 524 |
| Sébastien Goulet; ; | |
| Boyle, R.W., (1961) Native Zinc at Keno Hill, Can Min vol 6, pp 692-694 |
| [MinRec 22:386]; Boyle, R.W. (1965) Geology, geochemistry, and origin of the lead-zinc-silver deposits of the Keno Hill-Galena Hill area, Yukon Territory. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 111, 310 p. |
| Literature references cited |
Finland | |
| http://cdn.fmi.fi/marine-observations/products/ice-charts/latest-black-and-white-ice-chart.pdf |
Germany | |
| http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schellenberger_Eish%C3%B6hle |
Italy | |
| Flavio G. Taricco |
Norway | |
| Neumann, H. (1985): Norges Mineraler. Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse Skrifter 68, p.52 |
Russia | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov data (2012) |
| http://www.answers.com/topic/avacha. |
Slovakia | |
| albert russ |
| albert russ | |
| albert russ |
Spain | |
| C. Menor-Salvan | |
Tanzania | |
| Science 18 October 2002: Vol. 298. no. 5593, pp. 548 - 549 |
Ukraine | |
| Bailey, J. C. (1980). Formation of cryolite and other aluminofluorides: a petrologic review. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark, 29, 1-45. |
USA | |
| Rocks & Minerals 81:296-300 |
| Rolf Luetcke |
| Fred & Linda Elsnau. |
| Swartzlow, Carl Robert (1935), Ice caves in northern California: Journal of Geology: 43: 440-442; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 383. |
| Swartzlow, Carl Robert (1935), Ice caves in northern California: Journal of Geology: 43: 440-442; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 383. |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B. |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B. |
| [MinRec 15:86] |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B. |
| King, Vandall T. and Foord, Eugene E. (1994) Mineralogy of Maine, Descriptive Mineralogy, volume 1, Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, Maine, p. 198. |
| King, Vandall T. and Foord, Eugene E. (1994) Mineralogy of Maine, Descriptive Mineralogy, volume 1, Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, Maine, p. 198. |
| Clifford Trebilcock |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| Nashua Min. Soc. Disp. Cat., 1995 |
| Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed. |
| Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed. |
| Leonard S.Wiener and Sigrid Ballew,1995, Updated by Kenny Gay,2006, A Listing Of North Carolina Minerals,Geologic Note No.4 | |
| [Fargo - the Movie - Coen Brothers 1996] |
| Ref.1) Potter County Historical Society QUARTERLY BULLETIN # 83 January 1987 |
| http://windcave.areaparks.com/parkinfo.html?pid=17374 |
| SDSMT Bull 18 Roberts and Rapp "Mineralogy of the Black Hills" |
| SDSMT Bull 18 Roberts and Rapp "Mineralogy of the Black Hills" |
| http://www.mindat.org/photo-27554.html |
Venezuela | |
| Franco Urbani (2009) Venezuelan Cave Minerals: Second Review. Mineralogy 1 2009 ICS Proceedings. In 15th International Congress of Speleology. p 345 | |
Mars | |
| NASA photo |
| http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/ | |
| NASA | |
Outer Space | |
| Filacchione, G., De Sanctis, M.C., Capaccioni, F., Raponi, A., Tosi, F., Ciarniello, M., Cerroni, P., Piccioni, G., Capria, M.T., Palomba, E., Bellucci, G., Erard, S., Bockelee-Morvan, D., Leyrat, C., Arnold, G., Barucci, M.A., Fulchignoni, M., Schmitt, B., Quirico, E., Jaumann, R., Stephan, K., Longobardo, A., Mennella, V., Migliorini, A., Ammannito, A., Benkhoff, J., Bibring, J.P., Blanco, A., Blecka, M.I., Carlson, R., Carsenty, U., Colangeli, L., Combes, M., Combi, M., Crovisier, J., Drossart, P., Encrenaz, T., Federico, C., Fink, U., Fonti, S., Irwin, W.H.Ip.P., Kuehrt, E., Langevin, Y., Magni, G., McCord, T., Moroz, L., Mottola, S., Orofino, V., Schade, U., Taylor, F., Tiphene, D., Tozzi, G.P., Beck, P., Biver, N., Bonal, L., Combe, J.-Ph., Despan, D., Flamini, E., Formisano, M., Fornasier, S., Frigeri, A., Grassi, D., Gudipati, M.S., Kappel, D., Mancarella, F., Markus, K., Merlin, F., Orosei, R., Rinaldi, G., Cartacci, M., Cicchetti, A., Giuppi, S., Hello, Y., Henry, F., Jacquinod, S., Reess, J.M., Noschese, R., Politi, R., Peter, G. (2016): Exposed water ice on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Nature: 529: 368-372; http://phys.org/news/2016-01-ice-surface-comet-67p.html doi:10.1038/nature16190 | |
| http://spacefellowship.com/news/art14143/more-water-out-there-ice-found-on-an-asteroid.html |
| Russell, C.T., Raymond, C.A., Ammannito, E., Buczkowski, D.L., DeSanctis, M.C. Hiesinger, H., Jaumann, R., McSween, H.Y., Nathues, A., Park, R.S., Pieters, C.M., Prettyman, T.H., Joy, S.P., Polanskey, C.A., Rayman, M.D., Castillo-Rogez, J.C., Combe, J.-P., Ermakov, A., Hoffmann, M., Jia, Y.D., Li, J.-Y., Marchi, S., Preusker, F., Roatsch, T., Ruesch, O., Schenk, P., Villarreal, M.N., Yamashita, N. (2016): Dawn arrives at Ceres: exploration of a small volatile-rich world. 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference: pdf no. 1275 | |
Pluto | http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/january/nasa-s-new-horizons-spacecraft-begins-first-stages-of-pluto-encounter |
The Moon | |
| http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8544635.stm |
Milnet Mine, Parkin Township, Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada