Caminite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Caminite
Formula:
Mg7(SO4)5(OH)4 · H2O
Colour:
Colourless, white
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
2.58 - 2.79
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
The name is from the Latin caminus, for chimney, since the mineral occurs in undersea black-smoker chimneys.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
875
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:875:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
dcf4fe9b-f35c-47bb-9529-996c7258c704
IMA Classification of Caminite
Approved
First published:
1986
Classification of Caminite
7.D0.05
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
0 :
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
0 :
31.10.9.1
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : Miscellaneous
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : Miscellaneous
25.3.7
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Cmi | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Caminite
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, white
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{001}, good
{001}, good
Density:
2.58 - 2.79 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.14 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Caminite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.534 nε = 1.532
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.002
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:
Low
Chemistry of Caminite
Mindat Formula:
Mg7(SO4)5(OH)4 · H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Caminite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I41/amd
Setting:
I41/amd
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.242(1) Å, c = 12.995(3) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.479
Unit Cell V:
357.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
synthetic
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0018250 | Caminite | Keefer K D, Hochella M F, de Jong B H W S (1981) The structure of the magnesium hydroxide sulfate hydrate MgSO4.1/3Mg(OH)2.1/3H2O _cod_database_code 1100075 Acta Crystallographica B37 1003-1006 | 1981 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0019045 | Caminite | Yamnova N A, Pushcharovskii D Y, Apollonov V N (1989) Crystalline structure of a new natural Mg-sulfate Mg3[SO4]2(OH)2 Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta Geologiya 44 76-78 | 1989 | Nepa deposit of potassium salts, Eastern Siberia, Russia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.345 Å | (100) |
3.220 Å | (80) |
1.871 Å | (50) |
1.620 Å | (25) |
2.062 Å | (20) |
2.041 Å | (20) |
1.854 Å | (20) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
15 : Black/white smoker minerals and other seafloor hydrothermal minerals | |
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Type Occurrence of Caminite
General Appearance of Type Material:
As imperfect dipyramidal crystals, to 500 µm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No defined type material.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Reaction of sea water with hydrothermal fluids in a midocean ridge submarine chimney vent.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Haymon R M, Kastner M (1986) Caminite: A new magnesium-hydroxide-sulfate-hydrate mineral found in a submarine hydrothermal deposit, East Pacific Rise, 21°N. American Mineralogist 71, 819-825
Synonyms of Caminite
Other Language Names for Caminite
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.
Internet Links for Caminite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-875.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Caminite
Reference List:
Localities for Caminite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
India | |
| Deepthi et al. (2015) |
Pacific Ocean (TL) | |
| Haymon et al. (1986) |
Poland | |
| Kruszewski et al. (2019) |
Russia | |
| Fersman Museum |
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Nepskoe K salt deposit, Nepa River basin, Lower Tunguska, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia