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Arcanite

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Arcanite
Arcanite
General
CategorySulfate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
K2SO4
IMA symbolAcn[1]
Strunz classification7.AD.05
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupPmcn
Unit cella = 5.77, b = 10.07
c = 7.48 [Å]; Z = 4
Identification
ColorWhite to colorless, yellow
Crystal habitTabular crystals, typically in crusts and coatings
TwinningCyclic on {110}
CleavageGood on {010} and {001}
Mohs scale hardness2
LusterVitreous
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent to translucent
Specific gravity2.66
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα = 1.494 nβ = 1.495 nγ = 1.497
Birefringenceδ = 0.004
2V angleMeasured: 67°
References[2][3][4]

Arcanite is a potassium sulfate mineral with formula K2SO4.

Arcanite was first described in 1845 for an occurrence in old pine railroad ties in the Santa Ana tin mine, Trabuco Canyon, Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County, California, US.[2][4] It has also been reported from hydrothermal deposits in the Cesano geothermal field, Latium, Italy; in bat guano on the Chincha Islands of Peru; and in caves in Western Australia, South Africa and Namibia.[4]

Well-crystalline specimens sold as 'arcanite' are grown synthetically in places such as Poland for the decorative specimen market and are not natural minerals.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b c Mindat.org
  3. ^ Webmineral data
  4. ^ a b c Handbook of Mineralogy