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Urea

Formula:
CO(NH
 
2
)
 
2
System:TetragonalColour:Colourless, pale yellow, ...
Name:The name is the common trivial name of this compound (derived from Greek "oura", urine). The systematic name is carbonic acid diamide.
This page provides mineralogical data about Urea.

Classification of Urea

IMA status:Approved 1972
Strunz 8th edition ID:9/D.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:10.CA.35

10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
C : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
A : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
Dana 8th edition ID:50.4.6.1

50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
4 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:32.13

32 :
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Type Occurrence of Urea

Type Locality:Lake Rason, Toppin Hill, Western Australia, Australia
Year of Discovery:1973

Physical Properties of Urea

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Colourless, pale yellow, pale brown
Streak:yellowish white

Crystallography of Urea

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:a = 5.64Å, c = 4.7Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.833
Unit Cell Volume:V 149.51 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Urea

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.484 nε = 1.603
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.119

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

Chemical Properties of Urea

Formula:
CO(NH
 
2
)
 
2
Essential elements:C, H, N, O
All elements listed in formula:C, H, N, O

Relationship of Urea to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
10.CA.05Refikite
C
 
20
H
 
32
O
 
2
10.CA.10Flagstaffite
C
 
10
H
 
22
O
 
3
10.CA.15Hoelite
C
 
14
H
 
8
O
 
2
10.CA.20Abelsonite
Ni[C
 
32
H
 
36
N
 
4
]
10.CA.25Kladnoite
C
 
8
H
 
5
O
 
2
N
10.CA.30Guanine
C
 
5
H
 
5
N
 
5
O
10.CA.30Tinnunculite
C
 
10
H
 
12
N
 
8
O
 
8
10.CA.40Uricite
C
 
5
H
 
4
N
 
4
O
 
3
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
32.1Evenkite
C
 
21
H
 
44
32.2 Fitchtelite
C
 
19
H
 
34
32.3Simonellite
C
 
19
H
 
24
32.4Kratochvílite
C
 
13
H
 
10
32.5Idrialite
C
 
22
H
 
14
32.6Carpathite
C
 
24
H
 
12
32.7Refikite
C
 
20
H
 
32
O
 
2
32.8Flagstaffite
C
 
10
H
 
22
O
 
3
32.9Hoelite
C
 
14
H
 
8
O
 
2
32.10Kladnoite
C
 
8
H
 
5
O
 
2
N
32.11Acetamide
CH
 
3
CONH
 
2
32.12Guanine
C
 
5
H
 
5
N
 
5
O
32.14Uricite
C
 
5
H
 
4
N
 
4
O
 
3
32.15Abelsonite
Ni[C
 
32
H
 
36
N
 
4
]

Other Names for Urea

Synonyms:
IMA1972-031
Other Languages:
German:Harnstoff

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Urea

Reference List:Mineralogical Magazine (1973): 39: 346-348.

American Mineralogist (1974): 59: 874.

Acta Crystallographica (1999).

Articles/Blogs about Urea

Internet Links for Urea

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Urea details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Urea

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    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Toppin Hill
    		No reference listed
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