Carpathite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Carpathite
Formula:
C24H12
structural formula: [(CH)2C2]6 (7 fused benzene rings)
Colour:
Yellow, yellowish brown
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1½
Specific Gravity:
1.35 - 1.40
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Originally appears in the literature, translated from Russian as karpatite, apparently unclear on the origin of the name. Later appears as carpathite, but there does seem to be an IMA notice of the change. The new name is clearly for the Carpathian mountains. The name pendletonite also occurs in the literature, but was shown to be identical to carpathite
(CNMMN, 1971).
(CNMMN, 1971).
Type Locality:
Chemically identical to coronene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2162
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2162:9
IMA Classification of Carpathite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1955
Classification of Carpathite
10.BA.30
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
B : Hydrocarbons
A : Hydrocarbons
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
B : Hydrocarbons
A : Hydrocarbons
50.3.7.1
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
3 : Hydrocarbons
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
3 : Hydrocarbons
32.6
32 : Hydrocarbons, Resins and other Organic Compounds
32 : Hydrocarbons, Resins and other Organic Compounds
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Cpa | 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 Carpathite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Yellow, yellowish brown
Hardness:
1½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}, {100}, {201}
on {001}, {100}, {201}
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
1.35 - 1.40 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.29 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Carpathite
Type:
Biaxial (+/-)
RI values:
nα = 1.76 - 1.78 nβ = 1.977 - 1.982 nγ = 2.05 - 2.15
2V:
Measured: 96° to 115°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.290 - 0.370
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v, relatively strong
Chemistry of Carpathite
Mindat Formula:
C24H12
structural formula: [(CH)2C2]6 (7 fused benzene rings)
structural formula: [(CH)2C2]6 (7 fused benzene rings)
Elements listed:
CAS Registry number:
Crystallography of Carpathite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.035 Å, b = 4.695 Å, c = 16.014 Å
β = 112°
β = 112°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.137 : 1 : 3.411
Unit Cell V:
699.55 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals are acicular, thin tabular parallel to [001], showing {001}, {100}, {201}, many other forms, to 1 cm; typically in bladed groups and fibrous radiating aggregates.
Comment:
sp gr. P21/c or P2/c (synthetic)
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
Stop | Start
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Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0004412 | Carpathite | Echigo T, Kimata M, Maruoka T (2007) Crystal-chemical and carbon-isotopic characteristics of karpatite (C24H12) from the Picacho Peak Area, San Benito County, California: Evidences for the hydrothermal formation American Mineralogist 92 1262-1269 |  | 2007 | Picacho Peak Area, San Benito County, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0015361 | Carpathite | Fawcett J K, Trotter J (1966) The crystal and molecular structure of coronene Proceedings of the Royal Society of London A289 366-376 | 1966 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.40 Å | (100) |
| 7.52 Å | (80) |
| 7.25 Å | (50) |
| 3.97 Å | (70) |
| 3.52 Å | (90) |
| 3.43 Å | (40) |
| 3.05 Å | (60) |
Comments:
Olenevo, Ukraine.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 14 : Hot springs, geysers, and other subaerial geothermal minerals | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Carpathite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In cavities at the contact of diorite porphyry with argillites.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Carpathite
Other Language Names for Carpathite
Dutch:Carpathiet
Spanish:Carpathita
Karpatita
Pendletonita
Karpatita
Pendletonita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 38 photos of Carpathite associated with Cinnabar | HgS |
| 36 photos of Carpathite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 21 photos of Carpathite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 3 photos of Carpathite associated with Idrialite | C22H14 |
| 3 photos of Carpathite associated with Metacinnabar | HgS |
| 2 photos of Carpathite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 2 photos of Carpathite associated with 'Amethyst' | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Carpathite associated with 'Chalcedony' | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Carpathite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 1 photo of Carpathite associated with Siderite | FeCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 10.BA. | Freitalite | C14H10 |
| 10.BA.05 | Fichtelite | C19H34 |
| 10.BA.10 | Branchite | C20H34 |
| 10.BA.15 | Dinite | C20H36 |
| 10.BA.20 | Idrialite | C22H14 |
| 10.BA.25 | Kratochvílite | C13H10 |
| 10.BA.35 | Phylloretine | C18H18 |
| 10.BA.40 | Ravatite | C14H10 |
| 10.BA.45 | Simonellite | C19H24 |
| 10.BA.50 | Evenkite | C21H44 |
| 10.BA.55 | Wampenite | C18H16 |
| 10.BA.60 | 'Scharizerite' |
Fluorescence of Carpathite
Fluoresces sky-blue under LW and SW UV.
Other Information
Notes:
Flammable.
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 Carpathite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2162.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Carpathite
Reference List:
Murdoch, Joseph, Geissman, Theodore A. (1967) Pendletonite, a new hydrocarbon mineral from California. American Mineralogist, 52 (5-6) 611-616
Murdoch, Joseph, Geissman, Theodore A. (1968) Pendletonite: A correction. American Mineralogist, 53 (5-6) 1061-1062
International Mineralogical Association (1971) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine, 38 (293). 102-105 doi:10.1180/minmag.1971.038.293.14 p.103
Blumer, Max (1975) Curtisite, idrialite and pendletonite, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon minerals: Their composition and origin. Chemical Geology, 16 (4) 245-256 doi:10.1016/0009-2541(75)90064-9
Wise, Stephen A., Campbell, Robert M., West, W.Raymond, Lee, Milton L., Bartle, Keith D. (1986) Characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon minerals curtisite, idrialite and pendletonite using high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Chemical Geology, 54 (3) 339-357 doi:10.1016/0009-2541(86)90148-8
Localities for Carpathite
Showing 9 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Russia | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
Slovakia | |
| Duda |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Ďuďa |
Ukraine (TL) | |
| Fleischer (1957) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Chuck Trantham specimen |
| Robbins (1994) |
| Murdoch et al. (1967) +4 other references | |
| Gladwell (2022) |
Quick NavTopAbout CarpathiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Tamvatnei Hg deposit, Tamvatnei massif, Anadyrsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia