Arcanite
In this article we are going to delve into the exciting world of Arcanite, a topic that has captivated the attention of many people throughout history. From its origins to the present, Arcanite has been the subject of study, debate and interest by experts and fans. Along these lines we will explore the different facets of Arcanite, its impact on society and the various perspectives that have developed around it. Without a doubt, Arcanite is a topic that does not leave anyone indifferent and that deserves to be analyzed in depth.
| Arcanite | |
|---|---|
 Arcanite | |
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula | K2SO4 |
| IMA symbol | Acn[1] |
| Strunz classification | 7.AD.05 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Crystal class | Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Space group | Pmcn |
| Unit cell | a = 5.77, b = 10.07 c = 7.48 ; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | White to colorless, yellow |
| Crystal habit | Tabular crystals, typically in crusts and coatings |
| Twinning | Cyclic on {110} |
| Cleavage | Good on {010} and {001} |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent to translucent |
| Specific gravity | 2.66 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (+) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.494 nβ = 1.495 nγ = 1.497 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.004 |
| 2V angle | Measured: 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
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Mindat.org
- ^ Webmineral data
- ^ a b c Handbook of Mineralogy