Earlandite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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Formula:
Ca3[CH2(COO)-CHOH(COO)-CH2(COO)]2 · 4H2O
Colour:
White, pale yellow
Specific Gravity:
1.80 - 1.95
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Arthur Earland (3 November 1866, Lewisham, London, England, UK - 27 March 1958), British oceanographer and foraminifera specialist. He studied sediments from the Weddell Sea near Antarctica returned by the ship Scotia, and identified grains of the new mineral.
Chemically identical to calcium citrate tetrahydrate - a citric acid salt.
Occurs in unconsolidated ocean floor sediment at 2,580 meters in depth.
Occurs in unconsolidated ocean floor sediment at 2,580 meters in depth.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1344
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1344:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
89004ad3-47e8-4db4-b666-ed3ff6f32c35
IMA Classification of Earlandite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ca3(C6H5O7)2 · 4H2O
First published:
1936
Classification of Earlandite
10.AC.10
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
C : Benzine Salts
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
C : Benzine Salts
50.2.2.1
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
2 : Mellitates, Citrates, Cyanates, Acetates and Formates
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
2 : Mellitates, Citrates, Cyanates, Acetates and Formates
31.2.1
31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
2 : Citrates
31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
2 : Citrates
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 |
---|---|---|
Ear | 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 Earlandite
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
White, pale yellow
Comment:
Hardness not determined.
Density:
1.80 - 1.95 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.96 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Earlandite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.515 nβ = 1.530 nγ = 1.580
2V:
Measured: 60° , Calculated: 50°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.065
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:
Low
Dispersion:
r > v
Chemistry of Earlandite
Mindat Formula:
Ca3[CH2(COO)-CHOH(COO)-CH2(COO)]2 · 4H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Earlandite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 30.94 Å, b = 5.93 Å, c = 10.56 Å
β = 93.74°
β = 93.74°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 5.218 : 1 : 1.781
Unit Cell V:
1,933.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Veruginous, fine-grained nodules.
Comment:
Crystal System determination based on observations on synthetic material. Class and Space Group not determined.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0019542 | Earlandite | Herdtweck E, Kornprobst T, Sieber R, Straver L, Plank J (2011) Crystal structure, synthesis, and properties of tri-calcium di-citrate tetra-hydrate [Ca3(C6H5O7)2(H2O)2]*2H2O Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 637 655-659 | 2011 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
15.5 Å | (100) |
8.5 Å | (4) |
7.7 Å | (50) |
6.4 Å | (4) |
5.2 Å | (35) |
3.09 Å | (6) |
4.74 Å | (4) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
17 : Marine authigenic Hadean minerals (see also #24) | |
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44) | <0.54 |
Type Occurrence of Earlandite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Warty,fine-grained nodules.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The Natural History Museum, London, England: #1936,978, 1936,979. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: #134573.U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #105859, 162618.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Unconsolidated ocean sediments.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Bannister, F.A., Hey, M.H. (1936) Report on some crystalline components of the Weddell Sea deposits. Discovery Reports: 13: 60-69.
Other Language Names for Earlandite
German:Earlandit
Spanish:Earlandita
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
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 Earlandite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1344.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Earlandite
Localities for Earlandite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica (TL) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
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