Ikaite
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Formula:
CaCO3 · 6H2O
System:
Monoclinic
Name:
For the type locality Ikka Fjord, Greenland (formerly spelled Ika)
Readily dehydrates to calcite above 8°C.
The resulting pseudomorph of calcite after ikaite is also called "glendonite."
Compare Unnamed (Amorphous Calcium Carbonate).
The resulting pseudomorph of calcite after ikaite is also called "glendonite."
Compare Unnamed (Amorphous Calcium Carbonate).
Classification of Ikaite
Approved
5/D.01-60
5.CB.25
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
15.1.4.1
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
11.4.5
11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
Optical Data of Ikaite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.455 nβ = 1.538 nγ = 1.545
2V:
Measured: 45° , Calculated: 30°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.090
Image 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:
CaCO3 · 6H2O
Elements listed in formula:
Crystallography of Ikaite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.87 Å, b = 8.23 Å, c = 11.02 Å
β = 110.2°
β = 110.2°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.078 : 1 : 1.339
Unit Cell Volume:
V 754.98 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Occurrences of Ikaite
Type Occurrence of Ikaite
Relationship of Ikaite to other Species
| 5.CB.05 | Thermonatrite | Na2CO3 · H2O |
| 5.CB.10 | Natron | Na2CO3 · 10H2O |
| 5.CB.15 | Trona | Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O |
| 5.CB.20 | Monohydrocalcite | CaCO3 · H2O |
| 5.CB.30 | Pirssonite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O |
| 5.CB.35 | Gaylussite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O |
| 5.CB.40 | Chalconatronite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 · 3H2O |
| 5.CB.45 | Baylissite | K2Mg(CO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 5.CB.50 | Tuliokite | Na6BaTh(CO3)6 · 6H2O |
| 11.4.1 | Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 11.4.2 | Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 11.4.3 | Vaterite | CaCO3 |
| 11.4.4 | Monohydrocalcite | CaCO3 · H2O |
| 11.4.6 | Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 11.4.7 | Huntite | CaMg3(CO3)4 |
| 11.4.8 | Sergeevite | Ca2Mg11(CO3)9(HCO3)4(OH)4•6H2O |
Other Names for Ikaite
Other Information
Health Risks:
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]
Boch, R. et al. (2015): Ikaite (CaCO3.6H2O) in a man-made river bed: concrete leaching and hydrochemical alteration. Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft 161, 24 (abs.).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikaite [many further references]
http://reocities.com/RainForest/Vines/1486/ikkap.htm
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]
Boch, R. et al. (2015): Ikaite (CaCO3.6H2O) in a man-made river bed: concrete leaching and hydrochemical alteration. Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft 161, 24 (abs.).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikaite [many further references]
http://reocities.com/RainForest/Vines/1486/ikkap.htm
Internet Links for Ikaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2007.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Localities for Ikaite
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.
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. |
| 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. | |
Australia | |
| Keith F Compton collection |
Canada | |
| Last, F. M., Last, W. M., Fayek, M., & Halden, N. M. (2013). Occurrence and significance of a cold-water carbonate pseudomorph in microbialites from a saline lake. Journal of paleolimnology, 50(4), 505-517. |
Czech Republic | |
| 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 (TL) | |
| Petersen, O. V. & Johnsen, O. (2005): Mineral species first described from Greenland. Canadian Mineralogist, Special publication no. 8. |
Japan | |
| Genko. 91(6). 209-219 |
Romania | |
| Slavoaca, R., Slavoaca, D.C., 2000. Water chemistry and hydrochemical processes assessment in zones with Land slip in Buzău and Vrancea, SE Romania. Romanian Journal of Mineral Deposits, 79, Suppl. I, 2000, p.99-101 |
Russia | |
| www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/khib.htm |
| Jan Styer-Gold specimen and photo |
UK | |
| Field, L.P., Milodowski, A.E., Shaw, R.P., Stevens, L.P., Hall, M.R., Kilpatrick, A., Gunn, J., Kemp, S.J., Ellis, M.A. (2016): Unusual morphologies and the occurrence of pseudomorphs after ikaite (CaCO3•6H2O) in fast growing, hyperalkaline speleothem. Mineralogical Magazine: 80 (in press); http://forum.amiminerals.it/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12720 (2016) |
USA | |
| Geology 21:971-974. |