Rapidcreekite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Rapidcreekite
Formula:
Ca2(SO4)(CO3) · 4H2O
Colour:
White, colourless.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.21
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after the Rapid Creek area, Yukon, the type locality.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3366
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3366:0
IMA Classification of Rapidcreekite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca2(S6+O4)(CO3)·4H2O
Approval year:
1984
Classification of Rapidcreekite
7.DG.20
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations; with NO3, CO3, B(OH)4, SiO4 or IO3
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations; with NO3, CO3, B(OH)4, SiO4 or IO3
32.2.1.1
32 : COMPOUND SULFATES
2 : Hydrated Compound Sulfates
32 : COMPOUND SULFATES
2 : Hydrated Compound Sulfates
12.2.8
12 : Carbonates with other anions
2 : Carbonates with sulphate
12 : Carbonates with other anions
2 : Carbonates with sulphate
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rck | 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 Rapidcreekite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White, colourless.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {010}; good on {100}.
Perfect on {010}; good on {100}.
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
2.21(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.239 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Rapidcreekite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.516(1) nβ = 1.518(1) nγ = 1.531(1)
2V:
Measured: 45° (3), Calculated: 43°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.015
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:
Low (negative)
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:
none
Chemistry of Rapidcreekite
Mindat Formula:
Ca2(SO4)(CO3) · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Rapidcreekite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbcn
Setting:
Pbcn
Cell Parameters:
a = 15.49 Å, b = 19.18 Å, c = 6.15 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.808 : 1 : 0.321
Unit Cell V:
1,827.15 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Comment:
Pcnb
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
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019905 | Rapidcreekite | Onac B P, Effenberger H S, Wynn J G, Povara I (2013) Rapidcreekite in the sulfuric acid weathering environment of Diana Cave, Romania American Mineralogist 98 1302-1309 | 2013 | Diana Cave, Romania | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005481 | Rapidcreekite | Cooper M A, Hawthorne F C (1996) The crystal structure of rapidcreekite, Ca2(SO4)(CO3)(H2O)4, and its relation to the structure of gypsum The Canadian Mineralogist 34 99-106 |  | 1996 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.78 Å | (100) |
| 3.11 Å | (80) |
| 4.31 Å | (70) |
| 3.88 Å | (70) |
| 2.797 Å | (60) |
| 2.917 Å | (50) |
| 2.555 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Rapidcreekite
General Appearance of Type Material:
in radiating sprays, isolated and in crusts.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, 64346; Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada, 49502, 50824.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Rapidcreekite
Other Language Names for Rapidcreekite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Rapidcreekite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 2 photos of Rapidcreekite associated with Geminite | Cu2+(AsO3OH) · H2O |
| 2 photos of Rapidcreekite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 2 photos of Rapidcreekite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Rapidcreekite associated with Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Rapidcreekite associated with Monohydrocalcite | CaCO3 · H2O |
| 1 photo of Rapidcreekite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 1 photo of Rapidcreekite associated with Šlikite | Zn2Mg(CO3)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DG. | Mathesiusite | K5(UO2)4(SO4)4(VO5) · 4H2O |
| 7.DG.05 | Darapskite | Na3(SO4)(NO3) · H2O |
| 7.DG.10 | Clinoungemachite | (Na, K, Fe, SO4) |
| 7.DG.10 | Humberstonite | Na7K3Mg2(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DG.10 | Ungemachite | K3Na8Fe(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Chiyokoite | Ca3Si(CO3)[B(OH)4]O (OH)5 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Kottenheimite | Ca 3Si(SO4)2(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Hielscherite | Ca3Si(SO4)(SO3)(OH)6 · 11H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Jouravskite | Ca3Mn4+(SO4)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Thaumasite | Ca3(SO4)[Si(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Bentorite | Ca6Cr2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Carraraite | Ca3(SO4)[Ge(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Ettringite | Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Birunite | Ca18(SiO3)8.5(CO3)8.5SO4 · 15H2O(?) |
| 7.DG.15 | Siwaqaite | Ca6Al2(CrO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Buryatite | Ca3(Si,Fe3+,Al)(SO4)B(OH)4(OH,O)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Charlesite | Ca6(Al,Si)2(SO4)2[B(OH)4](OH,O)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Tatarinovite | Ca3Al(SO4)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Imayoshiite | Ca3Al(CO3)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Sturmanite | Ca6Fe3+2(SO4)2.5[B(OH)4](OH)12 · 25H2O |
| 7.DG.25 | Tatarskite | Ca6Mg2(SO4)2(CO3)2(OH)4Cl4 · 7H2O |
| 7.DG.30 | Nakauriite | Cu8(SO4)4(CO3)(OH)6 · 48H2O |
| 7.DG.35 | Chessexite | (Na,K)4Ca2(Mg,Zn)3Al8(SO4)10(SiO4)2 · 40H2O |
| 7.DG.40 | Fuenzalidaite | K6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(SO4)12(IO3)12 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.40 | Carlosruizite | K6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(SeO4)12(IO3)12 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.45 | 'Chelyabinskite' | (Ca,Mg)3(SO4,CO3)2[Si(OH)6] · 9H2O (?) |
| 7.DG.55 | Ramazzoite | [Mg8Cu12(PO4)(CO3)4(OH)24(H2O)20][(H0.33SO4)3(H2O)36] |
| 7.DG.60 | Witzkeite | Na4K4Ca(NO3)2(SO4)4 · 2H2O |
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 Rapidcreekite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3366.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Rapidcreekite
Reference List:
Roberts, Andrew C., Ansell, H. Gary, Jonasson, Ian R., Grice, Joel D., Ramik, Robert A. (1986) Rapidcreekite, a new hydrated calcium sulfate-carbonate from the Rapid Creek area, Yukon Territory. The Canadian Mineralogist, 24 (1) 51-54
Cooper, Mark A., Hawthorne, Frank C. (1996) The crystal structure of rapidcreekite, Ca2(SO4)(CO3)(H2O)4, and its relation to the structure of gypsum. The Canadian Mineralogist, 34 (1) 99-106
Onac, B. P., Effenberger, H. S., Wynn, J. G., Povara, I. (2013) Rapidcreekite in the sulfuric acid weathering environment of Diana Cave, Romania. American Mineralogist, 98 (7) 1302-1309 doi:10.2138/am.2013.4452[includes structure refinement]
Anthony, John W., Bideaux, Richard A., Bladh, Kenneth W., Nichols, Monte C. - Eds. (2016) Handbook of Mineralogy. https://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/
Avdontceva, M. S.; Zolotarev, Andrey A.; Krivovichev, S. V.; Krzhizhanovskaya, M. G.; Bocharov, V. N.; Shilovskikh, V. V.; Zolotarev, Anatoly A.; Rassomakhin, M. A. (2021) Rapidcreekite of anthropogenic origin - ’korkinoite’ from burnt mine dump in the Chelyabinsk coal basin, South Urals, Russia: crystal structure refinement, thermal behavior and spectroscopic characterization. Journal of GEOsciences, 66 (3). 147-156
Localities for Rapidcreekite
Showing 19 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.
Canada | |
| Shang (2000) |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
| 150-152. +4 other references |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
Czech Republic | |
| Žák K. et al. (2010) |
| Pavlíček et al. (2024) |
Egypt | |
| Salama et al. (2012) |
Germany | |
| American Mineralogist: 76: 2021. |
| Möhn et al. (08/2020) |
| Rüger +1 other reference |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2018) |
Norway | |
| Raade (1989) +1 other reference |
Poland | |
| Material analysed by University of ... |
| Warchulski et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
| Warchulski et al. (2015) |
| Nowinska (2020) |
Romania | |
| Onac (2009) +3 other references |
Russia | |
| Avdontceva et al. (2021) |
| Pekov (1998) |
Quick NavTopAbout RapidcreekiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Rapid Creek, Dawson mining district, Yukon, Canada