Wampenite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Wampenite
Wampen-village location
Wampen, Thiersheim, Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany
Wampen, Thiersheim, Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany
Formula:
C18H16
confirmed by high resolution mass spectrometry
Colour:
Pale amber
Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy
Hardness:
0 - 1
Specific Gravity:
1.15
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after the fossil conifer occurrence at Wampen, Germany, the type locality.
An organic mineral
New structure type. Other carbon-hydrogen minerals include: dinite, evenkite, fichtelite, hartite, idrialite, kratochvílite, 'phylloretine', ravatite, simonellite, "voltzite" (carbon-hydrogen sulfur), and not IMA-accepted adamantane and naphthalene.
The main structural motif is an aromatic phenanthrene moiety (compare ravatite) with attached axial methyl group and a disordered propen-2-yl (methylvinyl) terminal group. As such, it would be an isomer of methylmethylvinylphenanthrene, or x-methyl-x-propen-2-ylphenanthrene.
New structure type. Other carbon-hydrogen minerals include: dinite, evenkite, fichtelite, hartite, idrialite, kratochvílite, 'phylloretine', ravatite, simonellite, "voltzite" (carbon-hydrogen sulfur), and not IMA-accepted adamantane and naphthalene.
The main structural motif is an aromatic phenanthrene moiety (compare ravatite) with attached axial methyl group and a disordered propen-2-yl (methylvinyl) terminal group. As such, it would be an isomer of methylmethylvinylphenanthrene, or x-methyl-x-propen-2-ylphenanthrene.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46829
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46829:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
4912408b-58c1-4d15-a821-aab336fdb733
IMA Classification of Wampenite
Approved
Approval year:
2015
First published:
2017
Classification of Wampenite
10.BA.55
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
B : Hydrocarbons
A : Hydrocarbons
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
B : Hydrocarbons
A : Hydrocarbons
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Wpn | 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 Wampenite
Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale amber
Hardness:
0 - 1 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{001}
{001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
1.15(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 1.12 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Sink-float method in a mixture of water and sodium polytungstate
Optical Data of Wampenite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.580 nβ = 1.660 nγ = 1.790
2V:
Measured: 82° (2)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.210
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
None
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Z ∧ c ≈ 20°.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X ═ Y (pale amber) < Z (amber)
Chemistry of Wampenite
Mindat Formula:
C18H16
confirmed by high resolution mass spectrometry
confirmed by high resolution mass spectrometry
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Wampenite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.733(2) Å, b = 8.689(3) Å, c = 23.709(7) Å
β = 90.118(6)°
β = 90.118(6)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.775 : 1 : 2.729
Unit Cell V:
1387 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Flattened on {001} and blades elongated parallel to [100].
Twinning:
Twinning, probably by reflection on {001}, is ubiquitous.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 11.92 Å | (49) |
| 5.32 Å | (43) |
| 4.88 Å | (10) |
| 4.366 Å | (28) |
| 3.656 Å | (23) |
| 3.504 Å | (33) |
| 3.328 Å | (8) |
| 2.164 Å | (9) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Wampenite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Pale amber-coloured tablets.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Mineral Sciences Department, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA), catalogue number 63558.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fossilised conifer wood.
Reference:
Mills, S.J., Kampf, A.R., Nestola, F., Williams, P.A., Leverett, P., Hejazi, L., Hibbs, D.E., Mrorsko, M., Alvaro, M., Kasatkin, A.V. (2017): Wampenite, C18H16, a new organic mineral from the fossil conifer locality at Wampen, Bavaria, Germany. European Journal of Mineralogy: 29: 511-515.
Synonyms of Wampenite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 10.BA. | Freitalite | C14H10 |
| 10.BA.05 | Fichtelite | C19H34 |
| 10.BA.10 | Branchite | C20H34 |
| 10.BA.15 | Dinite | C20H36 |
| 10.BA.20 | Idrialite | C22H14 |
| 10.BA.25 | Kratochvílite | C13H10 |
| 10.BA.30 | Carpathite | C24H12 |
| 10.BA.35 | Phylloretine | C18H18 |
| 10.BA.40 | Ravatite | C14H10 |
| 10.BA.45 | Simonellite | C19H24 |
| 10.BA.50 | Evenkite | C21H44 |
| 10.BA.60 | Scharizerite |
Other Information
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 Wampenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46829.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Wampenite
Localities for Wampenite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Germany (TL) | |
| Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2015) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2015, CNMNC Newsletter No 27. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (5) 1223-1230 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.5.16 |
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Wampen, Thiersheim, Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany