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Dypingite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Dypingite
Work in one of the Dypingdal quarries
Dypingdal serpentine-magnesite deposit, Snarum, Modum, Buskerud, Norway
Dypingdal serpentine-magnesite deposit, Snarum, Modum, Buskerud, Norway
Formula:
Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 ¡ 5H2O
Colour:
White, pale pink
Lustre:
Pearly
Specific Gravity:
2.15 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1970 by Gunnar Raade after the type locality, the Dypingdal serpentine-magnesite deposit, Snarum, Modum, Buskerud, Norway. The name is pronounced 'dip-ing-ite'.
Higher hydrate counterpart of hydromagnesite, chemically very similar to giorgiosite. Also a lower hydrate when compared to 'UM1973-06-CO:MgH'.
At the type locality dypingite occurs as a surface alteration product on serpentine; it may be confused with hydromagnesite due to similarity in appearance.
Ambient humidity significantly influences the structural properties of dypingite at room temperature. High humidity (80% relative humidity at 22â °C) causes inhomogeneous expansion of the unit cell along the crystallographic c axis, leading to long-range structural disorder. Conversely, at 20% relative humidity at 22â °C, the mineral structure exhibits a shorter c lattice constant and reduced structural disorder (Sednev-Lugovets et al., 2025).
At the type locality dypingite occurs as a surface alteration product on serpentine; it may be confused with hydromagnesite due to similarity in appearance.
Ambient humidity significantly influences the structural properties of dypingite at room temperature. High humidity (80% relative humidity at 22â °C) causes inhomogeneous expansion of the unit cell along the crystallographic c axis, leading to long-range structural disorder. Conversely, at 20% relative humidity at 22â °C, the mineral structure exhibits a shorter c lattice constant and reduced structural disorder (Sednev-Lugovets et al., 2025).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1338
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1338:9
Similar Names
| Taipingite-(CeCa) | A valid IMA mineral species | (Ce7Ca2)◻Mg(SiO4)3[SiO3(OH)]4F3 |
IMA Classification of Dypingite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2¡5H2O
Approval year:
1970
First published:
1970
Classification of Dypingite
5.DA.05
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
D : Carbonates with additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
D : Carbonates with additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
16b.7.2.1
16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : Miscellaneous
16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : Miscellaneous
11.3.9
11 : Carbonates
3 : Carbonates of Mg
11 : Carbonates
3 : Carbonates of Mg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Dyp | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Dypingite
Pearly
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
White, pale pink
Streak:
White
Density:
2.15 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Dypingite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.508 nβ = 1.51 nγ = 1.516
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.008
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 Âľm 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 Âľm 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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (60°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (60°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
none
Chemistry of Dypingite
Mindat Formula:
Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 ¡ 5H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Dypingite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2 - Sphenoidal
Space Group:
P21
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.8593(2) Å, b = 8.3846(5) Å, c = 32.655(4) Å
β = 97.801(8)°
β = 97.801(8)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.057 : 1 : 3.895
Unit Cell V:
2402.7 Ă
Âł
Morphology:
Forms reniform, botryoidal, oolitic or globular aggregates of radially-divergent acicular to flaky crystals, up to 0.5 mm in size.
Comment:
Space group and unit cell determined by Sednev-Lugovets et al. (2025). Dehydrated material has the following unit-cell parameters: 8.8317(2), 8.3734(1), 30.041(9), 98.040(2), 2198.4(8).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.6 Ă | (100) |
| 6.34 Ă | (60) |
| 5.86 Ă | (60) |
| 3.16 Ă | (40) |
| 3.07 Ă | (40) |
| 2.53 Ă | (50) |
| 2.17 Ă | (50) |
Comments:
Dypingdal, Norway. Data from the type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earthâs earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 13 : Hadean serpentinization | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Geological Setting:
Weathered ultramafic rocks (esp. serpentinites).
Dump material and excavations at various ore deposits.
Cave assemblages.
Slag material.
Biologially induced by cyanobacteria (Power et al. 2007).
Dump material and excavations at various ore deposits.
Cave assemblages.
Slag material.
Biologially induced by cyanobacteria (Power et al. 2007).
Type Occurrence of Dypingite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Globular aggregates often showing a radiating structure, occurring as a thin surface alteration product on serpentine, resembling hydromagnesite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Oslo, Norway.
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| MgO | 38.3 % |
|---|---|
| CaO | 0.2 % |
| Fe as Fe2O3 | 0.2 % |
| CO2 | 36.3 % |
| H2O | 22.7 % |
| Acid insoluble | 2.0 % |
| Total: | 99.7 % |
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Serpentine-magnesite-deposit in Precambrian rocks
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Dypingite
Other Language Names for Dypingite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 67 photos of Dypingite associated with Canavesite | Mg2(HBO3)(CO3) ¡ 5H2O |
| 29 photos of Dypingite associated with Inderite | MgB3O3(OH)5 ¡ 5H2O |
| 18 photos of Dypingite associated with Nesquehonite | MgCO3 ¡ 3H2O |
| 16 photos of Dypingite associated with Hydromagnesite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 ¡ 4H2O |
| 13 photos of Dypingite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 10 photos of Dypingite associated with Lizardite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9 photos of Dypingite associated with Willemite | Zn2SiO4 |
| 9 photos of Dypingite associated with Franklinite | Zn2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 9 photos of Dypingite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 7 photos of Dypingite associated with Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.DA. | Alexkhomyakovite | K6(Ca2Na)(CO3)5Cl ¡ 6H2O |
| 5.DA. | Amoraite | Ca12Al6(OH)36(CO3)2(SO3) ¡ 15H2O |
| 5.DA.05 | 'UM1986-10-CO:ClHMgMnZn (also called Mineral F, Dunn, 1995)' | Mg5(Zn,Mn)3(CO3)2(OH,Cl)12 ¡ H2O |
| 5.DA.05 | 'UM1987-01-CO:HMgS' | Mg4(CO3)2(OH)4 ¡ 6H2O ? |
| 5.DA.05 | Giorgiosite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 ¡ 5-6H2O |
| 5.DA.05 | Hydromagnesite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.05 | Widgiemoolthalite | Ni5(CO3)4(OH)2 ¡ 5H2O |
| 5.DA.10 | Artinite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)2 ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.10 | Chlorartinite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)Cl ¡ 2H2O |
| 5.DA.10 | Indigirite | Mg2Al2(CO3)4(OH)2 ¡ 15H2O |
| 5.DA.15 | Zaratite | Ni3(CO3)(OH)4 ¡ 4H2O ? |
| 5.DA.15 | Otwayite | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 ¡ H2O |
| 5.DA.20 | Kambaldaite | NaNi4(CO3)3(OH)3 ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.25 | Callaghanite | Cu2Mg2(CO3)(OH)6 ¡ 2H2O |
| 5.DA.30 | Claraite | (Cu,Zn)15(CO3)4(AsO4)2(SO4)(OH)14 ¡ 7H2O |
| 5.DA.35 | Hydroscarbroite | Al14(CO3)3(OH)36 ¡ nH2O |
| 5.DA.35 | Scarbroite | Al5(CO3)(OH)13 ¡ 5H2O |
| 5.DA.40 | Karchevskyite | Mg18Al9(OH)54Sr2(CO3)9(H2O)6(H3O)5 |
| 5.DA.40 | 'UM1987-05-OH:AlCMg' | Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3,SO4) ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.40 | Quintinite | Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3) ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.40 | Charmarite | Mn2+4Al2(OH)12[CO3] ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.40 | Caresite | Fe2+4Al2(OH)12[CO3] ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | 'Hydrotalcite-2H' | Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | 'Stichtite-2H' | Mg6(Cr,Al)2(CO3)(OH)16 ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | Brugnatellite | Mg6Fe3+(CO3)(OH)13 ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | Zaccagnaite | Zn4Al2(OH)12[CO3] ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | 'Pyroaurite-2H' | Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16(CO3) ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | Liudongshengite | Zn4Cr2(OH)12(CO3) ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | Chlormagaluminite | Mg4Al2(OH)12Cl2 ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Pyroaurite | Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16[CO3] ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Takovite | Ni6Al2(OH)16[CO3] ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Reevesite | Ni6Fe3+2(OH)16(CO3) ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Kaznakhtite | Ni6Co3+2(CO3)(OH)16 ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Comblainite | Ni4Co2(OH)12[CO3] ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Marioantofilliite | [Cu4Al2(OH)12](CO3) ¡ 3H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Hydrotalcite | Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Stichtite | Mg6Cr3+2(OH)16[CO3] ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Desautelsite | Mg6Mn3+2(OH)16[CO3] ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.55 | Coalingite | Mg10Fe3+2(OH)24[CO3] ¡ 2H2O |
| 5.DA.55 | Akopovaite | Al4Li2(OH)12(CO3)(H2O)3 |
| 5.DA.60 | Šlikite | Zn2Mg(CO3)2(OH)2 ¡ 4H2O |
| 5.DA.65 | Marklite | Cu5(CO3)2(OH)6 ¡ 6H2O |
Fluorescence of Dypingite
Fluorescent (light blue) with LW/MW/SW and phosphorescent (yellow-green). The strongest response is with MW.
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Infrared absorption spectrum is very similar to hydromagnesite. Absorption bands at 3650 cm-1 (OH-); 3510 and 3450 cm-1 (water); 1480, 1420, 1120 (CO32- stretching); 880, 850, 800 (CO32- bending). Bands at 1020 and 940 are characteristic.
Thermal Behaviour:
Heating to 150 °C, causes dypingite to convert to hydromagnesite.
DTA curve is very similar to hydromagnesite. However, dypingite shows two pronounced endothermic peaks at 55 and 125 C.
DTA curve is very similar to hydromagnesite. However, dypingite shows two pronounced endothermic peaks at 55 and 125 C.
Notes:
Easily dissolved in cold dilute HCl with effervescence.
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 Dypingite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1338.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 Dypingite
Reference List:
Raade, Gunnar (1970) Dypingite, a new hydrous basic carbonate of magnesium, from Norway. American Mineralogist, 55 (9-10) 1457-1465
Suzuki, Jujin, Ito, Masahiro (1973) A new magnesium carbonate hydrate mineral, Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2¡8H2O,from Yoshikawa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The Journal of the Japanese Association of Mineralogists, Petrologists and Economic Geologists, 68 (11) 353-361 doi:10.2465/ganko1941.68.353
Canterford, J. H., Tsambourakis, G., Lambert, B. (1984) Some observations on the properties of dypingite, Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2¡5H2O, and related minerals. Mineralogical Magazine, 48 (348) 437-442 doi:10.1180/minmag.1984.048.348.15
Power, Ian M, Wilson, Siobhan A, Thom, James M, Dipple, Gregory M, Southam, Gordon (2007) Biologically induced mineralization of dypingite by cyanobacteria from an alkaline wetland near Atlin, British Columbia, Canada. Geochemical Transactions, 8 (13). 1-16 doi:10.1186/1467-4866-8-13
Frost, Ray L., Bahfenne, Silmarilly, Graham, Jessica, Reddy, B. Jagannadha (2008) The structure of selected magnesium carbonate minerals â A near infrared and mid-infrared spectroscopic study. Polyhedron, 27 (9) 2069-2076 doi:10.1016/j.poly.2008.03.019
Frost, Ray L., Bahfenne, Silmarilly, Graham, Jessica (2009) Raman spectroscopic study of the magnesium-carbonate minerals-artinite and dypingite. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 40 (8). 855-860 doi:10.1002/jrs.2152
Raade, Gunnar (2012) Dypingite, my first mineral - forty-two years later, in Kongsberg Mineralsymposium 2012. Norsk Bergverksmuseum Skrifter, 49. 53-63
Yamamoto, Gen-ichiro; Kyono, Atsushi; Okada, Satoru (2022) Thermal decomposition process of dypingite Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2¡5H2O. Materials Letters, 308. 131125 doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2021.131125
Lu, Yang, Sednev-Lugovets, Anton, Carvalho, Patricia, Guzik, Matylda, Dunkel, Kristina, Austrheim, HĂĽkon, Friis, Henrik (2023) Dypingite series defined by the content of molecular H2O. Goldschmidt2023 abstracts, European Association of Geochemistry. doi:10.7185/gold2023.17096
Sednev-Lugovets, Anton; Lu, Yang; Vistad, Ărnulv; Carvalho, Patricia Almeida; Missyul, Alexander; Austrheim, HĂĽkon; Friis, Henrik; Guzik, Matylda N. (2025) The crystal structure of dypingite: understanding the long-range disorder. Journal of Applied Crystallography, 58 (6). 1908-1919 doi:10.1107/s1600576725007915
Lu, Yang; Sednev-Lugovets, Anton; Carvalho, Patricia; Guzik, Matylda N.; Dayaghi, Amir Masoud; Dunkel, Kristina; Austrheim, HĂĽkon; Lin, Zhiyong; Friis, Henrik (2025) Dypingite as a hydration series with reversible change of H2O content. American Mineralogist. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9603
Sednev-Lugovets, Anton; Lu, Yang; Vistad, Ărnulv; Carvalho, Patricia Almeida; Missyul, Alexander; Austrheim, HĂĽkon; Friis, Henrik; Guzik, Matylda N. (2026) The crystal structure of dypingite: understanding the long-range disorder. Corrigendum. Journal of Applied Crystallography, 59 (2). 705 doi:10.1107/s1600576726002438
Localities for Dypingite
Showing 70 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
â - 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 | |
| Gore et al. (1996) |
Australia | |
| Bottrill et al. (2002) |
| R Bottrill & R Woolley |
Austria | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| LĂśffler et al. (2011) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Bojar et al. (2005) |
| Exel (1993) |
| C.Auer (2026) |
Belgium | |
| van Tassel (1979) |
| van Tassel (1979) |
Canada | |
| Greengrass et al. (1999) |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
| 150-152. +2 other references | |
France | |
| Oustrière et al. 1980 et al. (2012) |
| Wittern et al. (1997) |
Germany | |
| Bender et al. (1994) +1 other reference |
| Blass et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
| Haas (n.d.) |
| 58 (in German) +1 other reference |
| Schnorrer-KĂśhler et al. (1991) | |
| Neschen (n.d.) |
| Knoll (2004) |
| Ko Jansen +3 other references | |
| Witzke et al. (1998) |
| RĂźger (1995) |
Greece | |
| BlaĂ et al. (1998) |
| BlaĂ et al. (1998) |
Hungary | |
| Mecsek-Oko |
Italy | |
| Adorni F. (1997) |
| M.E. Ciriotti |
| Campostrini (2001) +2 other references |
| Brizio et al. (2018) |
| Stara et al. (1999) |
| Ara D. et al. (2013) |
| Biagioni et al. (2013) |
| Pegoraro S. (2014) |
Japan | |
| Suzuki et al. (1976) |
| Suzuki et al. (1973) +1 other reference | |
Norway (TL) | |
| Raade (1970) +2 other references |
| Raade (1970) +1 other reference | |
| XRD at Natural History Museum +1 other reference |
| Lu et al. (2023) | |
| Lu et al. (2023) | |
| Lu et al. (2023) | |
| Raade (1993) |
Pakistan | |
| Jordi Fabre collection |
Poland | |
| Ĺ. Kruszewski (PXRD data) +1 other reference |
| Ĺ. Kruszewski (PXRD data) | |
| Ĺ. Kruszewski (PXRD data) |
Romania | |
| product of the brucite alteration in the Budureasa-Pietroasa area (Bihor Mts., Romania) +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| |
| Ugapeva et al. (2023) |
Spain | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection - XRD ... |
| Xevi Ortiz collection. |
| Sanz-Montero et al. (2019) |
| Joan Rosell |
| Locality description | |
Switzerland | |
| Ansermet et al. (2021) |
| Ansermet et al. (2021) | |
UK | |
| Green et al. (2006) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
USA | |
| www.benitoitemine.com/ Cisneros +1 other reference |
| Pemberton (1983) +1 other reference | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Martin Jensen collection |
| Dunn (1995) |
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Brosso Mine, Calea, Lessolo, Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont, Italy