Whewellite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
About WhewelliteHide
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Colour:
White, yellow, brown, colourless; colourless in transmitted light.
Specific Gravity:
2.21 - 2.23
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honour of William Whewell (24 May 1794, Lancaster, Lancashire, England - 6 March 1866, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England), naturalist and scientist, Professor of Moral Philosophy and inventor of the system of crystallographic indexing. He coined the words 'scientist', 'physicist', and many others.
The type locality is uncertain, however, the most likely type locality is Cavnic, Romania (Papp, G. (2004) History of minerals, rocks and fossil resins discovered in the Carpathian Region. Hungarian Natural History Museum publ., Studia Naturalia 15, 215 p.)
A rare low-temperature primary hydrothermal mineral in carbonate-sulphide veins; also occurs in geodes, or septarian nodules; associated with coal measures and surrounding rocks with organic material; in some uranium deposits. As microscopic crystals in living plant cells and as calculi or as a sediment in the human urinary tract. Also described as a product of fungal activity (e.g., Burford et al., 2003; compare 'Unnamed (Pb Oxalate Dihydrate)'), e.g. in Nali Limecrusts, some calcretes, leaf litter and soils in forests; also formed by lichen on various rocks (basalts, serpentinites, Cu-bearing rocks, gabbros, dolerites, andesites); many organisms produce the mineral (e.g., Acarospora, Aspicilia, Lecanora, Lecidea, Parmelia).
Note: Cleaning any specimen containing Ca-bearing soluble species with oxalic acid will lead to crystallisation of whewellite or weddellite.
Unique IdentifiersHide
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Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4276:1
406665f0-2938-4da4-b149-ba2e5957d7d2
IMA Classification of WhewelliteHide
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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Type description reference:
Classification of WhewelliteHide
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10.AB.45
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
B : Oxalates
50.1.1.1
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
1 : Oxalates
31.1.5
31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
1 : Oxalates
Mineral SymbolsHide
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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Whe | 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 WhewelliteHide
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Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Lustre pearly on {010} and on some cleavages.
Colour:
White, yellow, brown, colourless; colourless in transmitted light.
Cleavage:
Very Good
On {101} very good; on {010}, imperfect; on {001}, {110}, indistinct.
Density:
2.21 - 2.23 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.22 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of WhewelliteHide
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RI values:
_n_α = 1.489 - 1.491 _n_β = 1.553 - 1.554 _n_γ = 1.649 - 1.650
2V:
Measured: 80° to 84°, Calculated: 84°
δ = 0.160
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Z ∧ c = 30°.
Chemistry of WhewelliteHide
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Mindat Formula:
Ca(C2O4) · H2O
Crystallography of WhewelliteHide
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Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.290 Å, b = 14.583 Å, c = 10.116 Å
β = 109.46°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.431 : 1 : 0.694
Unit Cell V:
874.90 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Crystals equant to short prismatic [001], typically distorted with faces commonly irregularly developed, exhibiting forms {001}, {011}, {010}, {110}, {120}, {132}, {101}, plus several additional. Cleavable massive.
Twinning:
Very common on {101} as twin and contact plane, with or without reentrant angles, yielding heart-shaped or prismatic, and of pseudo-orthorhombic appearance.
Comment:
Other (standard) setting in space group: P21/n, with 6.29, 14.58, 9.97 Å, 107°.
Crystallographic forms of WhewelliteHide
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Crystal Atlas:
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Crystal StructureHide
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| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000776 | Whewellite | Tazzoli V, Domeneghetti M C (1980) The crystal structures of whewellite and weddellite: re-examination and comparison American Mineralogist 65 327-334 |  |
1980 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.95 Å | (100) |
| 3.652 Å | (90) |
| 2.971 Å | (50) |
| 2.906 Å | (10) |
| 2.497 Å | (20) |
| 2.357 Å | (80) |
| 2.262 Å | (20) |
Comments:
Near Havre, Montana, USA. Data from Pecora and Kerr (1954).
Geological EnvironmentHide
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Geological Setting:
In carbonate-sulphide veins, geodes, or septarian nodules; associated with coal measures or in surrounding rock containing organic matter; in some uranium deposits.
Synonyms of WhewelliteHide
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Other Language Names for WhewelliteHide
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Common AssociatesHide
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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
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Other InformationHide
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Notes:
Soluble in acids. Insoluble in water.
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 WhewelliteHide
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References for WhewelliteHide
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Reference List:
Localities for WhewelliteHide
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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Locality ListHide
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- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.