Ice
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Ice
Formula:
H2O
Colour:
Colourless to white, pale blue to greenish blue in thick layers
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1½
Specific Gravity:
0.9167
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
From Old English is, from Proto-Germanic *isa-.
Dimorph of:
Stable as a solid under 0°C (at standard atmospheric pressure). There are many different structural varieties of ice, although the standard form found on earth is Ih (hexagonal ice) as described here.
It is now confirmed that water ice is also extraterrestrial, occurring on the Moon, Mars and (most likely) Mercury. Long suggested to occur in comets, it was spotted on the surface of the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko comet.
Low-temperature ordering of water in opal into ice-like structure, in particular to its cubic modification, is described by Eckert et al. (2015).
It is now confirmed that water ice is also extraterrestrial, occurring on the Moon, Mars and (most likely) Mercury. Long suggested to occur in comets, it was spotted on the surface of the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko comet.
Low-temperature ordering of water in opal into ice-like structure, in particular to its cubic modification, is described by Eckert et al. (2015).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2001
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2001:1
IMA Classification of Ice
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Ice
4.AA.05
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
A : Cation:Anion (M:O) = 2:1 (and 1.8:1)
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
A : Cation:Anion (M:O) = 2:1 (and 1.8:1)
4.1.2.1
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
1 : A2X
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
1 : A2X
7.1.1
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
1 : Oxides of hydrogen
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
1 : Oxides of hydrogen
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ice | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Ice
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Ice
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless to white, pale blue to greenish blue in thick layers
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1½ on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Translation gliding:
(0001)
Density:
0.9167 g/cm3 (Measured) 0.93 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Ice
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.309 nε = 1.311
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.000
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.
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.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemistry of Ice
Mindat Formula:
H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Ice
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Setting:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.498 Å, c = 7.338 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.631
Unit Cell V:
128.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Usually as snow crystals, in complex six-rayed stellate forms of great variety, flattened {0001}. Delicate skeletal forms or hopper-shaped prisms as hoar frost. Lathlike crystals, greatly elongated at times, by crystallization on the surface of water.
Twinning:
Twin plane (α): {0001}, and (b): {0001}.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0016627 | Ice | Peterson S, Levy H (1957) A Single-Crystal Neutron Diffraction Study of Heavy Ice _cod_database_code 1008748 Acta Crystallographica 10 70-76 |  | 1957 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0016628 | Ice | Peterson S, Levy H (1957) A Single-Crystal Neutron Diffraction Study of Heavy Ice _cod_database_code 1008749 Acta Crystallographica 10 70-76 | | 1957 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018367 | Ice | Kamb B (1964) Ice II: A proton-ordered form of ice Acta Crystallographica 17 1437-1449 | | 1964 | synthetic | 0.3 | 293 |
| 0017930 | Ice | Bernal J, Fowler R (1933) A Theory of Water and Ionic Solution, with Particular Reference to Hydrogen and Hydroxyl Ions _cod_database_code 1011023 Journal of Chemical Physics 1 515-548 | 1933 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017962 | Ice | McFarlan R (1936) The Structure of Ice II _cod_database_code 1011063 Journal of Chemical Physics 4 60-64 | 1936 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017931 | Ice | McFarlan R (1936) The Structure of Ice III _cod_database_code 1011024 Journal of Chemical Physics 4 253-259 | 1936 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0018368 | Ice | Engelhardt H, Kamb B (1981) Structure of ice IV, a metastable high-pressure phase Journal of Chemical Physics 75 5887-5899 | 1981 | synthetic | 0 | 110 | |
| 0018366 | Ice | Fortes A D, Wood I G, Grigoriev D, Alfredsson M, Kipfstuhl S, Knight K S, Smith R I (2004) No evidence for large-scale proton ordering in Antarctic ice from powder neutron diffraction Journal of Chemical Physics 120 11376-11379 | 2004 | Kohen Station, Antarctica | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018366 | Ice | Fortes A D, Wood I G, Grigoriev D, Alfredsson M, Kipfstuhl S, Knight K S, Smith R I (2004) No evidence for large-scale proton ordering in Antarctic ice from powder neutron diffraction Journal of Chemical Physics 120 11376-11379 | 2004 | Kohen Station, Antarctica | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018369 | Ice | Kamb B, Davis B L (1964) Ice VII, the densest form of ice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 52 1433-1439 | 1964 | synthetic | 2.5 | 223 | |
| 0015417 | Ice | Kamb B (1965) Structure of ice VI Science 150 205-209 | 1965 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.90 Å | (100) |
| 3.66 Å | (100) |
| 2.25 Å | (90) |
| 3.4 Å | (80) |
| 2.07 Å | (60) |
| 1.92 Å | (50) |
| 2.67 Å | (35) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Pre-terrestrial "Ur-minerals" | >4.57 |
| 1 : Stellar atmosphere condensates | |
| 2 : Interstellar condensates | |
| Stage 1: Primary nebular phases | 4.567-4.561 |
| 3 : Solar nebular condensates (CAIs, AOAs, URIs) | >4.565 |
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 5 : Primary asteroid phases | 4.566–4.560 |
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 18 : Minerals formed by freezing | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44) | <0.54 |
Other Language Names for Ice
Varieties of Ice
| Snow | An airborne variety of Ice, formed of very complex flat hexagonal crystals. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.AA.10 | Cubo-ice | H2O |
| 4.AA.10 | Cuprite | Cu2O |
| 4.AA.15 | Paramelaconite | Cu1+2Cu2+2O3 |
Other Information
Magnetism:
Diamagnetic
Notes:
Melts at 0 °C at atmospheric pressure.
Health Risks:
Internet Links for Ice
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2001.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 Ice
Reference List:
Eckert, Jürgen, Gourdon, Olivier, Jacob, Dorrit E., Meral, Cagla, Monteiro, Paulo J.M., Vogel, Sven C., Wirth, Richard, Wenk, Hans-Rudolf (2015) Ordering of water in opals with different microstructures. European Journal of Mineralogy, 27 (2) 203-213 doi:10.1127/ejm/2015/0027-2428
Ignatov, Ignat, Marinov, Yordan G., Vassileva, Paunka, Popova, Teodora P., Gluhchev, Georgi, Iliev, Mario T., Huether, Fabio, Dimitrov, Zhechko, Gotova, Irina (2025) Formation of Ice Ih Clusters in Solid-Phase Glacial Water with Low Concentrations of Ca2⁺ and Mg2⁺ Ions. Crystals, 15 (3). doi:10.3390/cryst15030254
Localities for Ice
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.
Antarctica | |
| Güner et al. (2013) |
| Craig et al. (1974) |
Austria | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| de.wikipedia.org (2008) |
Belgium | |
| |
Canada | |
| Peatfield (n.d.) +1 other reference |
| Macdonald (2019) | |
| Ward et al. (2018) |
| Ice is photoed and mentioned in this ... +1 other reference |
| Sébastien Goulet | |
| Boyle (1961) |
| Boyle (1965) +1 other reference |
| Literature references cited |
China | |
| Yang et al. (2015) |
Europe | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
Finland | |
| cdn.fmi.fi (2013) |
Germany | |
| de.wikipedia.org (2004) |
Italy | |
| Flavio G. Taricco |
Norway | |
| Neumann (1985) |
Poland | |
| Collected by Krzysztof Andrzejewski |
Romania | |
| Bogdan P. Onac (2017) |
Russia | |
| www.answers.com (n.d.) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov data (2012) |
Slovakia | |
| albert russ |
| albert russ | |
| albert russ |
Spain | |
| C. Menor-Salvan | |
Switzerland | |
| Elio Uldry collection |
Ukraine | |
| Bailey (1980) |
USA | |
| Rocks & Minerals 81:296-300 |
| Luetcke (n.d.) |
| Fred & Linda Elsnau. |
| Swartzlow (1935) +1 other reference |
| Swartzlow (1935) +1 other reference |
| Rogers et al. (1991) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Truebe (1984) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| E.L. Clopton and others |
| King et al. (1994) |
| King et al. (1994) |
| Clifford Trebilcock |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Nashua Min Soc. Disp. Cat. 1995 |
| Rogers (1991, August) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) | |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Leonard S.Wiener and Sigrid Ballew | |
| [Fargo - the Movie - Coen Brothers 1996] |
| Ref.1 |
| Roberts et al. (1965) |
| Roberts et al. (1965) |
| Brittany Burkhardt observations |
| www.mindat.org (2013) |
Venezuela | |
| Franco Urbani (2009) | |
Ceres | |
Europa | |
Mars | |
| NASA photo |
| phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu (2003) | |
| NASA | |
Outer Space | |
| Filacchione et al. (2016) +1 other reference | |
| spacefellowship.com (2009) |
Pluto | |
The Moon | |
| news.bbc.co.uk (n.d.) |
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Milnet Mine, Parkin Township, Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada