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Whitlockite

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Palermo No. 1 Mine (Palermo #1 pegmatite), Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA
© 2004 JBS

Show Whitlockite Photos (20)
Formula:
Ca
 
9
Mg[PO
 
3
OH][PO
 
4
]
 
6
System:TrigonalColour:Colourless, gray-white, ...
Hardness:5
Name:Named after Herbert Percy Whitlock (1868-1948), Curator of Minerals, American Museum of Natural History, New York (USA).


Whitlockite Group

All non-terrestrial whitlockites are actually Merrillite (Dowty, 1977)

Classification of Whitlockite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.05-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AC.45

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:38.3.4.1

38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
3 : (AB)3(XO4)2
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.4.8

19 : Phosphates
4 : Phosphates of Ca
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Type Occurrence of Whitlockite

Type Locality:Palermo No. 1 Mine (Palermo #1 pegmatite), Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University 95030
Year of Discovery:1940
Geological Setting of type material:Pegmatite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
XanthoxeniteTriphyliteSideriteQuartzLudlamite
FairfielditeApatite

Occurrences of Whitlockite

Geological Setting:Pegmatites; phosphate-rock deposits.

Physical Properties of Whitlockite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, gray-white, light pink, light yellow; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):5
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.12 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.102 g/cm3

Crystallography of Whitlockite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:R3c
Cell Parameters:a = 10.33Å, c = 37.103(5) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 3.592
Unit Cell Volume:V 3,428.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Crystals exhibit rhombohedral development; rarely tabular {0001}. Coarse-granular to earthy. Cave pearls.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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 Whitlockite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.629 nε = 1.626
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.003

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

Chemical Properties of Whitlockite

Formula:
Ca
 
9
Mg[PO
 
3
OH][PO
 
4
]
 
6
Essential elements:Ca, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, Mg, O, P

Relationship of Whitlockite to other Species

Related to:
  • Whitlockite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    8.AC.05Howardevansite
    NaCuFe
     
    2
    		(VO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Alluaudite
    (Na,Ca)Mn
    2+
     
    		(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    2
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Arseniopleite
    NaCaMn
    2+
     
    		(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    2
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Caryinite
    (Na,Pb)(Ca,Na)((Ca,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Mg,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    8.AC.10Ferroalluaudite
    (Na,Ca)Fe
    2+
     
    		(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Hagendorfite
    NaCaMn
    2+
     
    		Fe
    2+
    2
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Johillerite
    Na(Mg,Zn)
     
    3
    		Cu[AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    8.AC.10Maghagendorfite
    NaMn(Mg,Fe,Fe)
     
    3
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Nickenichite
    Na
     
    0.8
    		Ca
     
    0.4
    		Cu
     
    0.4
    		(Mg,Fe)
     
    3
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Varulite
    NaCaMn
    2+
     
    		Mn
    2+
    2
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Ferrohagendorfite
    (Na,Ca)
     
    2
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Bradaczekite
    NaCu
     
    4
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.10Yazganite
    NaFe
    3+
    2
    		(Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)[AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    		 · H
     
    2
    		O
    8.AC.10Ferro-alluaudite
    8.AC.15Bobfergusonite
    Na
     
    2
    		Mn
     
    5
    		FeAl(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    8.AC.15Ferrowyllieite
    (Na,Ca,Mn)(Fe,Mn)(Fe,Fe,Mg)Al(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.15Qingheiite
    NaMn
    3+
     
    		Mg(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    8.AC.15Rosemaryite
    (Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Mg)Al(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.15Wyllieite
    (Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mg)Al(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.15Ferrorosemaryite
    []NaFe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
     
    		Al(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.20Marićite
    NaFe
    2+
     
    		[PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.AC.25Berzeliite
    NaCa
     
    2
    		(Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    8.AC.25Manganberzeliite
    (Ca,Na)
     
    3
    		(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    2
    		[AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    8.AC.25Palenzonaite
    (Ca,Na)
     
    3
    		CaMn
    2+
    2
    		[VO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    8.AC.25Schäferite
    Ca
     
    2
    		NaMg
     
    2
    		[VO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    8.AC.30Brianite
    Na
     
    2
    		CaMg[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.AC.35Vitusite-(Ce)
    Na
     
    3
    		(Ce,La,Nd)(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    8.AC.40Olgite
    Ba(NaSr)
     
    2
    		Na[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.AC.40Bario-olgite
    Ba(Na,Sr,REE)
     
    2
    		Na[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.AC.45Strontiowhitlockite
    Sr
     
    9
    		MgH[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    7
    8.AC.45Merrillite
    Ca
     
    18
    		Na
     
    2
    		(Mg
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    14
    8.AC.45Tuite
    Ca
     
    3
    		[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.AC.45Ferromerrillite
    Ca
     
    9
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		Na[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    7
    8.AC.50Chladniite
    {Ca}{Na
     
    8
    		}{Ca
     
    4
    		Na
     
    4
    		}{(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    43
    		}[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    36
    8.AC.50Fillowite
    {Mn
    2+
     
    		}{Na
     
    8
    		}{Ca
     
    4
    		Na
     
    4
    		}{(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    43
    		}[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    36
    8.AC.50Johnsomervilleite
    {Ca}{Na
     
    6
    		[ ]
     
    2
    		}{Ca
     
    6
    		Na
     
    2
    		}{(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    43
    		}[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    36
    8.AC.50Galileiite
    {Fe
    2+
     
    		}{Na
     
    8
    		}{Fe
    2+
    4
    		Na
     
    4
    		}{Fe
    2+
    43
    		}[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    36
    8.AC.50Stornesite-(Y)
    {(Y, Ca)}{Na
     
    6
    		[ ]
     
    2
    		}{(Ca,Na)
     
    8
    		}{(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    43
    		}[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    36
    8.AC.50IMA2006-006
    Na
     
    4
    		Fe
    2+
    7
    		[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    6
    8.AC.55Harrisonite
    Ca(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    6
    		[PO
     
    4
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.AC.60Kosnarite
    KZr
     
    2
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    8.AC.65Panethite
    (Na,Ca)
     
    2
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.AC.70Stanfieldite
    Ca
     
    7
    		Ca
     
    2
    		Mg
     
    9
    		[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    12
    8.AC.75Ronneburgite
    K
     
    2
    		MnV
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    8.AC.80Tillmannsite
    (Ag
     
    3
    		Hg)[(VO
     
    4
    		, AsO
     
    4
    		)]
    8.AC.85Filatovite
    K[(Al,Zn)
     
    2
    		(As,Si)
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    19.4.1Monetite
    CaHPO
     
    4
    19.4.2Apatite-(CaOH)
    Ca
     
    5
    		[OH|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    19.4.3Brushite
    CaHPO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    19.4.4Isoclasite
    Ca
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    19.4.5Buchwaldite
    NaCaPO
     
    4
    19.4.6Canaphite
    CaNa
     
    2
    		[HPO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 3H
     
    2
    		O
    19.4.7Mundrabillaite
    (NH
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		Ca(HPO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    19.4.9Brianite
    Na
     
    2
    		CaMg[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    19.4.10Petersite-(Y)
    (Y,Ce,Nd)Cu
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O

    Other Names for Whitlockite

    Synonyms:
    Pyrophosphorite
    German names:
    Whitlockit
    Russian names:
    Витлокит
    Spanish names:
    Whitlockita
    Varieties:
    Martinite (of Kloos)Zeugite

    Other Information

    Electrical:Piezoelectric, pyroelectric
    Other Information:Readily soluble in dilute acids.
    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 Whitlockite

    Reference List:Julien (1865) American Journal of Science: 40: 371 (as Zeugite).

    Shepard (1878) American Journal of Science: 15: 49 (as Pyrophosphorite).

    American Mineralogical Society, Program and Abstracts (1940): 7.

    Frondel, C. (1941) American Mineralogist: 26: 145.

    Frondel, C. (1943) American Mineralogist: 28: 227.

    Bannister (1947) Mineralogical Magazine: 28: 29.

    Frondel, C. (1949) American Mineralogist: 34: 692.

    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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 684-686.

    Calvo, C. & R. Gopal (1975):"The crystal structure of whitlockite from the Palermo Quarry": American Mineralogist: 60: 120-133.

    Dowty, E.: (1977): "Phosphate in Angra dos Reis: structure and composition of the Ca3(PO4)2 minerals": Earth and Planetary Science Letters: 36: 347-351.

    Internet Links for Whitlockite

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  • Look for Whitlockite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Whitlockite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Whitlockite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Whitlockite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Whitlockite

    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.
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    (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.
    Algeria
     
    • Oran Province
    		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: 686.
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Flinders Ranges
        • South Flinders Ranges
          • Wilmington
    		American Mineralogist (2000): 85: 1324.
    • Western Australia
      • Eucla
        • Madura Motel
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1977): 41: 33-35.
    Bahamas
     
    • San Salvador District
      • San Salvador Island
    		Carb.&Evap. v.16 no.1 (2001)
    British West Indies
     
    • Anguilla
    		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: 686.
    Canada
     
    • Manitoba
      • Lac-du-Bonnet area
        • Bernic Lake
    		Min. Rec.: 32: 416.
    • Yukon Territory
      • Dawson Mining District
    		Horvath, L. (2003). Whitlockit vom Big Fish River, Yukon, Kanada. Lapis 28 (9), 39-40 + 58.
    [MinRec 23:Yukon 34]
    Cuba
     
    • Santiago de Cuba Province
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • Wetzlar
        • Waldgirmes
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
    • Schleswig-Holstein
      • Bredstedt
        • Joldelund
    		A. Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
        • Ronneburg U deposit
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Israel
     
    Vapnik, Y., Sokol, E., Murashko M., Sharygin V. (2006): The enigma of Hatrurim. Mineralogical Almanac, 10, 69-77.
    Malaysia
     
    • Borneo
      • Sarawak
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1983): 47: 79-80.
    Mexico
     
    • Durango
      • Mun. de Mapimí
        • Mapimí
    		Panczner (1987): 392.
    Morocco
     
    Namibia
     
    • Erongo Region
      • Karibib District
        • Okatjimukuju farm (Friedrichsfelde farm)
    		P. Keller and O. von Knorring, Eur. J. Mineral. , 1989, 1, pp. 567-593.
        • Usakos
    		Keller, P. (1974): Phosphatmineralien aus Pegmatiten Südwestafrikas. Der Aufschluss 25,577-591.
    Netherlands Antilles
     
    • Curaçao
    		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: 686.
    Norway
     
    • Telemark
      • Bamble (Bamle)
    		Morton, R. D. (1961): Contributions to the mineralogy of Norway. No.9). On the occurrence of two rare phospates in the Ødegården Apatite mines, Bamble, South Norway. Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift 41: 233-246; Griffin et al. (1972); Neumann (1985, p. 115).
    Oman
     
    • Dhofar (Al Janubiyah) Province
    The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 88, 2004 JULY, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 39, Axxx–Axxx (2004)
    • Sayh al Uhaymir
    		Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 5, 11492, 2003
    The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 87
    Puerto Rico
     
    • Mayeguez
    		[var: Martinite (of Kloos)] Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    South Africa
    Minerals of South Africa
    Minerals of South Africa
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Nelspruit District
    		Martini, J.E.J. et al (1997), "Mbobo Mkulu Cave, South Africa", in "Cave Minerals of the World" (1997)
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Granada
    Switzerland
     
    • Vaud (Waadt)
      • Oron-la-Ville
        • Châtillens
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Verlag Wepf & Co. (Basel), p. 500
    USA
     
    • California
      • Trinity Co.
    • Maine
      • Androscoggin Co.
        • Poland
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine.
      • Oxford Co.
        • Newry
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    King, V. T., 2006, Minerals of Halls Ridge and Plumbago-Puzzle Mountain, Newry, ... Maine, Mineral News, v. 22(6): p. 1-3.
        • Rumford
    		King & Foord, 1994. Mineralogy of Maine, V. 1.; King and Foord, 2000, Addenda to Volume 1, Mineralogy of Maine, v. 2.
    • Nevada
      • Eureka Co.
        • Lynn District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Potosi District
    • New Hampshire
      • Grafton Co.
        • Groton
    		American Mineralogical Society, Program and Abstracts (1940) p. 7; 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: 686, 842, 953, 977; Rocks & Minerals: 16: 208-211.
      • Strafford Co.
        • Strafford
    		Rocks & Min.:64:504.
    • South Dakota
      • Custer Co.
        • Custer District
          • Custer
    		Seaman, 1976. Pegmatite Minerals of the World
          • Fourmile
    		Mineralogical Record: 14: 195; Rocks & Minerals: 60: 117.
          • Pringle
            • Cicero Peak
    		Rocks & Minerals: 75(3): 156-169.
    • Utah
      • Rich Co.
        • Crawford Mts
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
        • Laketown District
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
        • Woodruff Creek
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    • Virginia
      • Mecklenburg Co.
    		Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    Venezuela
     
    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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 661, 686.
    • Miranda
    		Urbani, 1997. Bol. Soc. Venezolana de Espeleología, no.30.
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