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Whewellite

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Burgk, Dresden, Saxony, Germany
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Whewellite Photos (20)
Formula:
Ca[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:White, yellow, brown, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, PearlyHardness:2½ - 3
Name:
Named after William Whewell (1794-1866), English naturalist and scientist, Professor of Moral Philosophy and inventor of the system of crystallographic indexing.


A rare low-temperature primary hydrothermal mineral in carbonate-sulfide 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.

Classification of Whewellite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:9/A.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:10.AB.45

10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
B : Oxalates
Dana 8th edition ID:50.1.1.1

50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
1 : Oxalates
Hey's CIM Ref.:31.1.5

31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
1 : Oxalates
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Occurrences of Whewellite

Geological Setting:In carbonate-sulfide veins, geodes, or septarian nodules; associated with coal measures or in surrounding rock containing organic matter; in some uranium deposits.

Physical Properties of Whewellite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Lustre pearly on {010} and on some cleavages.
Colour:White, yellow, brown, colourless; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Very Good
On {101} very good; on {010}, imperfect; on {001}, {110}, indistinct.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.21 - 2.23 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.22 g/cm3

Crystallography of Whewellite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.284Å, b = 7.29Å, c = 9.994Å
β = 107.03°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.862 : 1 : 1.371
Unit Cell Volume:V 437.75 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
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:Space Group: P21/n
Crystal Atlas:
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Whewellite no.7 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Whewellite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.489 - 1.491 nβ = 1.553 - 1.554 nγ = 1.649 - 1.650
2V:Measured: 80° to 84°, Calculated: 84°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.160

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Whewellite

Formula:
Ca[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Ca, H, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, H, O
CAS Registry number:5794-28-5

CAS Registry numbers are published by the American Chemical Society

Relationship of Whewellite to other Species

Common Associates:
WeddelliteSphaleritePyriteCalciteBaryte
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
10.AB.05Humboldtine
Fe[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
10.AB.05Lindbergite
Mn
2+
 
[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
10.AB.10Glushinskite
Mg[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
10.AB.15Moolooite
Cu[C
 
2
O
 
4
]·0.4H
 
2
O
10.AB.20Stepanovite
NaMgFe
3+
 
[C
 
2
O
 
4
]
 
3
 · 8-9H
 
2
O
10.AB.25Minguzzite
K
 
3
Fe
3+
 
[C
 
2
O
 
4
]
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
10.AB.30Wheatleyite
Na
 
2
Cu[C
 
2
O
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
10.AB.35Zhemchuzhnikovite
NaMg(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[C
 
2
O
 
4
]
 
3
 · 8H
 
2
O
10.AB.40Weddellite
Ca[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
10.AB.50Caoxite
Ca[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
10.AB.55Oxammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
10.AB.60Natroxalate
Na
 
2
[C
 
2
O
 
4
]
10.AB.65Coskrenite-(Ce)
(Ce,Nd,La)
 
2
[(SO
 
4
)
 
2
|C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 12H
 
2
O
10.AB.70Levinsonite-(Y)
(Y,Nd,La)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(C
 
2
O
 
4
)·12H
 
2
O
10.AB.75Zugshunstite-(Ce)
(Ce,Nd,La)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(C
 
2
O
 
4
)·12H
 
2
O
10.AB.80Novgorodovaite
Ca
 
2
[Cl
 
2
|C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
31.1.1Oxammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
31.1.2Moolooite
Cu[C
 
2
O
 
4
]·0.4H
 
2
O
31.1.3Wheatleyite
Na
 
2
Cu[C
 
2
O
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
31.1.4Glushinskite
Mg[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
31.1.6Weddellite
Ca[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
31.1.7Humboldtine
Fe[C
 
2
O
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
31.1.8Stepanovite
NaMgFe
3+
 
[C
 
2
O
 
4
]
 
3
 · 8-9H
 
2
O
31.1.9Zhemchuzhnikovite
NaMg(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[C
 
2
O
 
4
]
 
3
 · 8H
 
2
O
31.1.10Minguzzite
K
 
3
Fe
3+
 
[C
 
2
O
 
4
]
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Whewellite

Synonyms:
OxacalciteOxalate of LimeVevellite
Other Languages:
German:Kohlenspath
Thierschite
Vevellit
Whewellit
Russian:Уэвеллит
Spanish:Vevellita
Whewellita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids. Insoluble in water.
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 Whewellite

Reference List:Brooke, H. T. (1840) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 16: 449-450 (as Oxalate of Lime).

Shepard C.U. (1844) Treatise on Mineralogy. second edition: 111 (as Oxacalcite).

Brooke, H.J. and Miller, W.H. (1852) Introduction to Mineralogy by Wm. Phillips, London, 1823. New edition by Brooke and Miller. 8vo, London: 623.

Liebig (1853) Annalen der Chemie, Leipzig (Justus Liebig’s): 86: 113 (as Thierschite).

Dana, J.D. (1854) System of Mineralogy, 4th. Edition, New York.

Frenzel (1889) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 11: 83 (as Kohlenspath).

Becke (1907) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 26: 391.

Slavík (1908) Rozpr. böhm. Ak. Prag: 17, no. 38.

Ježek (1908) Ac. Sc. Bohéme, Bull.: 13: 1.

Ježek (1909) Ac. Sc. Bohéme, Bull.: 14: 1.

Ungemach (1909) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 32: 20.

Ježek (1911) Ac. Sc. Bohéme, Bull.: 16: 1.

Kolbeck, Goldschmidt, and Schröder (1918) Beitr. Kr. Min.: 1: 199.

Wherry (1922) Journal of the Washington Academy of Science: 12: 196.

Goldschmidt, V. (1923) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 9: 70.

Frey (1924) Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Frauenfeld: 4: 16.

Vassoyevicz and Razumovsky (1928) Mem. soc. russe min.: 57: 275.

Kašpar (1932) Vĕstnik. Král. Čes. Spol. Nauk, Cl. 2, no. 34.

Kašpar (1939) Knihov. Stat. Geol. Úst. Česk. Repub.: 20: 1.

Pobeguin, et al (1943) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 216: 500, 808.

Kalyuzhnyi (1948) Comptes rendus de l’académie des sciences de l’U.R.S.S.: 59: 1631.

Pecora, W.T. and J.H. Kerr (1954) Whewellite from a septarian limestone concretion in marine shale near Havre, Montana. American Mineralogist, 39, 208–214.

Leavens, P.B. (1968) New data on whewellite. American Mineralogist: 53: 455-463.

American Mineralogist (1980): 65: 327-334.

Deganello, S. and O.E. Piro (1981) The crystal structure of calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite). Neues Jahrb. Mineral., Monatsh., 81–88.

Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva (1984): 113: 84.

Internet Links for Whewellite

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

    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
      • Cape Grim district
    		http://www.crocoite.com/locationbulletins/part1/zeolites.pdf
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Habach valley
    		NIEDERMAYR, G., F. BERNHARD, H.-P. BOJAR, F. BRANDSTÄTTER, H. FINK, J. GRÖBNER, V. M. F. HAMMER, G. KNOBLOCH, U. KOLITSCH, B. LEIKAUF, W. POSTL, M. SABOR, & F. WALTER (2006): Neue Mineralfunde aus Österreich LV. – Carinthia II, 196./116.: 121-157.
    Brazil
     
    • Southeast Region
      • Minas Gerais
        • Jequitinhonha valley
          • Itinga
            • Monte Belo
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
    		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: 1101; Duda, Rejl, Slivka: "Mineralien", 1991
          • Pchery
    		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: 1101.
        • Příbram
    		Litochleb et al. (2005) Bull. Nár. muz. (Praha)
      • Ústí Region
        • Bílina (Bilin)
    		Bouška, V., Dvořák, Z.: Nerosty severočeské hěndouhelné pánve. Praha: Severočeské doly, a.s., 160 s.
        • Chomutov
    		Svejkovský, J., Koutecký, D.: Nerosty v pelokarbonátových konkrecích na hnědouhelném lomu Libouš u Chomutova. Minerál, 2008, roč. 16, č. 1, s. 41 - 44.
        • Duchcov (Dux)
    		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: 1101.
    France
     
    • Alsace
      • Bas-Rhin
        • Villé Valley
          • Urbeis
    		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: 1101.
    • Rhône-Alpes
      • Loire
    		"Les Mineraux, leurs gisements, leurs associations" P. Bariand, F. Cesbron, J. Geffroy, Mineraux et Fossiles 1978
    P.-C. Guiollard (2002), L'uranium du Morvan et du Forez, Ed. P.-C. Guiollard, Fichous(64), 95 pp.
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Peine
    		Aufschluss 1986(8+9), 282
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Münsterland
        • Steinfurt
          • Ibbenbüren
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Niederzissen
          • Hannebach
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag, München (2. Auflage), 1987
    • Saxony
      • Dresden
    		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: 1101; O'Donoghue, 1976 - "Encyclopedia of Minerals & Gemstones", 286.
      • Erzgebirge
    		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: 1101; Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
        • Schlema-Hartenstein District
    Roger Lang collection
    No reference listed
    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: 1101; O'Donoghue, 1976 - "Encyclopedia of Minerals & Gemstones", 286.
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
        • Ronneburg U deposit
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Narsaq
    		Soerensen, H. (2001): The Ilimaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland: status of mineralogical research with new results, Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin 190, GEUS
    Hungary
     
    • Fejér Co.
      • Bicske-Zsámbéki Basin
        • Bicske-Csordakút
    • Heves Co.
      • Mátra Mts.
        • Recsk
    		Szakáll & Jánosi: Minerals of Hungary, 1995
    • Komárom-Esztergom Co.
      • Gerecse Mts.
    		Szakáll & Jánosi: Minerals of Hungary, 1995
    Italy
     
    Kolitsch, U., Lackner, E., Ciriotti, M.E. (2008): Lindbergite: primo ritrovamento italiano a Molinello. Addendum-corrigendum. Micro (UK Report), 2/2008, 77-78
    Romania
     
    • Maramures Co.
    		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: 1101.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
        • Polar Yakutia
          • Bulun District
            • Lena River Basin
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Chitinskaya Oblast'
          • Krasnokamensk
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Primorskiy Kray
        • Dal'negorsk (Dalnegorsk; Tjetjuche; Tetjuche)
          • Nikolaevskoe Pb-Zn-Ag deposit
    		Min Rec vol 32, pp 7-30 (2001)
    Slovakia
     
    • Prešov Region
      • Ondavská vrchovina Mts
    		Bačo,P.,Pacindová,M., 1993: Whewellit a dawsonit - epigenetická mineralizácia v puklinách pieskovca pri Cígeľke. Min.Slovaca,Bratislava, 4,277-281p
    UK
     
    • England
      • North Yorkshire
        • North Pennines
          • Craven District
            • Ingleton
    		No reference listed
    Ukraine
     
    • Crimea Oblast'
    		World of Stones v.9
    USA
     
    • Michigan
      • Keweenaw Co.
        • Ahmeek
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
    • Montana
      • Hill Co.
    		Am Min 39:208-214
    • Ohio
      • Erie Co.
    		AmMin 51:228
      • Franklin Co.
    		Minerals of Ohio Bull. 69 ODNR
    • Oregon
      • Sherman Co.
    		Campbell, T. and Roberts, W., 1986, Whewellite from South Dakota and a Review of Other North American Locanities, Mineralogical Record, v 17:131-133.
    • South Dakota
      • Meade Co.
        • Dalzell
    		Lapis Vol 21, no. 1 (1996)
    Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    • Texas
      • Hudspeth Co.
        • Van Horn Mts
    		R&M 66:3 pp 196-224
    • Utah
    		AmMin 45:1257
        • Big Indian District (Big Indian Wash - Lisbon Valley Area)
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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