Information about Dypingite

Dypingite is a rare hydrous magnesium carbonate mineral that often appears as white to pale cream aggregates with a silky or pearly luster.

It commonly forms as botryoidal (grape-like) masses, thin crusts, or delicate fibrous layers on surfaces of ultramafic rocks or serpentine deposits.

Its softness and fragile nature give it a chalky texture, and it is often associated with similar carbonate minerals like hydromagnesite.

Uses and History

Dypingite has limited industrial applications due to its rarity, but it is of interest to mineral collectors for its unique appearance and occurrence in specific geological settings.

Dypingite was named after the locality of Dypingdal in Norway, where it was originally discovered.

Since then, it has been found in various ultramafic geological settings around the world and is considered a key mineral in understanding carbonate formation processes in serpentinised rocks.

Mineralogy

Hazards and Warnings

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.

When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

Translations

Further Reading / External Links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dypingite
• https://www.mindat.org/min-1338.html
• http://webmineral.com/data/Dypingite.shtml
• https://handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/dypingite.pdf