合成イカ石は、Pelouze によって19世紀には発見されていた[17]。イカ石は適度な圧力でのみ熱力学的に安定であり、地表近くでは常に準安定状態である[18][19]。しかし、イカ石は自然界に比較的普通に発見できることから、その結晶核生成や成長の条件は、さほど特殊なものでは無いと考えられる。条件としてはまず冷たい水が必要である。またおそらく、リン酸イオンなどが無水炭酸カルシウム(方解石、霰石、ファーテル石)の核生成を阻害し、イカ石の形成と保存を助けていると思われる。おそらく、炭酸カルシウム水溶液が、イオン状態を保ったまま高濃度に濃縮されることが、熱力学的に安定な範囲外でイカ石の核形成が発生する理由であろう。冷水から取り出すと、イカ石はすみやかに崩壊し、一水方解石(英語版)もしくは無水和物の炭酸カルシウムと水に分解される。このためイカ石は "the melting mineral"(融ける鉱物)と言われる。
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