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Vaterite

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Hopffeldboden, Hopffeld area, Obersulzbach valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria
© O. Dziallas

Show Vaterite Photos (7)
Formula:
CaCO
 
3
System:HexagonalColour:Colourless
Hardness:3
Name:Named after Heinrich Vater, Professor of Mineralogy and Chemistry, Tharandt, Saxony (Germany).
Polymorph of:Aragonite, Calcite


A rare CaCO3 modification that is metastable below approx. 400°C.

Classification of Vaterite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AB.20

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 8th edition ID:14.1.2.1

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.4.3

11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
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Physical Properties of Vaterite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3
Density (calculated):2.645 g/cm3

Crystallography of Vaterite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P63/mmc {P63/m 2/m 2/c}
Cell Parameters:a = 4.13Å, c = 8.49Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.056
Unit Cell Volume:V 125.41 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:6
Morphology:Thin fibres, spherulitic aggregates.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.57 (55)
3.30 (100)
2.73 (95)
2.065 (60)
1.858 (25)
1.823 (70)

Optical Data of Vaterite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.550 nε = 1.650
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.100

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate

Chemical Properties of Vaterite

Formula:
CaCO
 
3
Essential elements:C, Ca, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, O
CAS Registry number:471-34-1

CAS Registry numbers are published by the American Chemical Society

Relationship of Vaterite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.AB.05Calcite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.05Gaspéite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
 
3
5.AB.05Magnesite
MgCO
 
3
5.AB.05Otavite
CdCO
 
3
5.AB.05Rhodochrosite
MnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Siderite
FeCO
 
3
5.AB.05Smithsonite
ZnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Spherocobaltite
CoCO
 
3
5.AB.10Ankerite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
 ,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Dolomite
CaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Kutnohorite
Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Minrecordite
CaZn(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.15Aragonite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.15Cerussite
PbCO
 
3
5.AB.15Strontianite
SrCO
 
3
5.AB.15Witherite
BaCO
 
3
5.AB.25Huntite
CaMg
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
5.AB.30Norsethite
BaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.35Alstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.40Olekminskite
Sr(Sr,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.40Paralstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.45Barytocalcite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.50Carbocernaite
(Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.55Benstonite
(Ba,Sr)
 
6
(Ca,Mn)
 
6
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
13
5.AB.60Juangodoyite
Na
 
2
Cu(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.4.1Calcite
CaCO
 
3
11.4.2Aragonite
CaCO
 
3
11.4.4Monohydrocalcite
CaCO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
11.4.5Ikaite
CaCO
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
11.4.6Dolomite
CaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.4.7Huntite
CaMg
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
11.4.8Sergeevite
Ca
 
2
Mg
 
11
(CO
 
3
)
 
13
·10H
 
2
O

Other Names for Vaterite

Synonyms:
μ-CalciteVaterite-B
Other Languages:
German:Vaterit
Russian:Фатерит
Simplified Chinese:球文石
Spanish:Vaterita

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Dry crystals convert to calcite when heated to about 440°.
Other Information:Converts to aragonite or calcite when boiled in water. Converts to calcite when boiled in NaCl solution.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
External LinksSearch for toxicity information at the United States National Library of Medicine

References for Vaterite

Reference List:Doelter, C. (1911) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 1: 113.

Meigen, W. (1911): Über kohlensauren Kalk. Verhandl. Ges. Deut. Naturforscher u. Ärtzte, 82, 120-124.

Johnston, Merwin, and Williamson (1916) American Journal of Science: 41: 473.

Gibson, Wyckoff, and Merwin (1925) American Journal of Science: 10: 325 (as Vaterite-B).

Heide (1925) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 198.

Hintze, Carl (1926) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3B]: 2883.

Yoshimura (1930) Japanese Journal of Geology and Geography: 7: 3.

American Mineralogist (1931): 16: 770-772.

Donnay (1936) Société géologique de Belgique, Liége, Bulletin: 59: 215.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 181-182.

McConnel, J.D.C. (1960): Vaterite from Ballycraigy, Larne, Northern Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine: 32: 534-544.

American Mineralogist (1960): 45: 1316.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1969): 128: 183.

Wang, J.W. & Becker, U. (2009): Structure and carbonate orientation of vaterite (CaCO3). Am. Mineral. 94, 380-386.

Internet Links for Vaterite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Vaterite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Vaterite

    Hide Locality List
    The 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.
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Central Plateau
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Obersulzbach valley
          • Hopffeld area
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Montérégie
        • Rouville RCM
          • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		No reference listed
    China
     
    • Zhejiang Province
      • Hangzhou Prefecture
        • Yuhang District
    		Acta Mineralogica Sinica 21(2), 153-157 (2001)
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		WALENTA, K. (1995): Neue Mineralfunde von der Grube Clara. 6. Folge, 2. Teil. - Lapis 20 (6), 41 und 46-49.
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Clausthal-Zellerfeld
          • Oberschulenberg
    		Schnorrer-Köhler, G. (1991): Mineralogische Notizen V, Der Aufschluss, Vol. 42, 155-171
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Daun
          • Üdersdorf
    		Schüller, W., Betz, V., Die Mineralien vom Emmelberg, Lapis 12/1986
        • Hillesheim
          • Zilsdorf
    		Hentschel. G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag München, 1983
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
            • Bellerberg volcano
              • Ettringer Bellerberg Mt. (Bellberg Mt.; Bellenberg Mt.; Billenberg Mt.; Boilenberg Mt.)
    		[Hentschel, G., Seltene Minerale in Calcium-reichen Auswürflingen vom Bellerberg bei Mayen/Eifel, Aufschluß 29, 77-83, 1978] [Lapis, 15 (5), 9-36]
              • Southern lava flow
    		Hentschel, G., Dent Glasser, L.S., Lee, C.K. (1983): Jasmundite. Ca22(Si04)8O4S2. a new mineral, N. Jb. Mineral., Mh., 337-342.
        • Mendig
          • Niedermendig
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag München, 1983
    Hungary
     
    • Somogy Co.
    		Szakáll & Gatter: Hun. Min. Spec., 1993
    Israel
     
    • Negev desert
    		Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
          • Monte Somma
            • Ercolano
              • San Vito
    		Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data, Luigi Chiappino material
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido Island
      • Tokachi Province
        • Ashoro-cho (Asyoro-tyo)
    		Ito et al. (1999) Ganseki-Koubutsu-Koshogaku Zasshi, 94, 176-182.
    Palestine
     
    • West Bank
      • Hatrurim formation
    		Shulamit Gross (1977) The mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geol. Surv. of Israel, bull. # 70.
    Poland
     
    • Upper Silesia (Śląskie)
      • Upper Silesian Coal Basin
        • Katowice area
          • Siemianowice Śląskie
    		Kruszewski L. 2006: Oldhamite-periclase-portlandite-fluorite assemblage and coexisting minerals of burnt dump in Siemianowice Śląskie - Dąbrówka Wielka area (Upper Silesia, Poland) - preliminary report. Mineralogia Polonica Special Papers, vol.28, 118-120
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/khib.htm
    www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/vuori.htm; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Kalahari manganese fields
        • Hotazel
    		Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Maricopa Co.
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 412.
    • Michigan
      • Houghton Co.
        • Osceola
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (E. W. Heinrich & G. W. Robinson)
    • New Mexico
      • Otero Co.
        • Cornudas Mountains
    		XRD - Laszlo Horvath collection
    • Tennessee
      • Smith Co.
        • Central Tennessee Ba-F-Pb-Zn District
          • Carthage
    		www.excaliburmineral.com
    Mineral and/or Locality
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