Wendwilsonite
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About Wendwilsonite
Formula:
Ca2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2O
Often contains some Co replacing Mg.
Colour:
Pale pink to red.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
3.478 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1987 by Pete J. Dunn,, Bozidar Darko Sturman, Joseph A. Nelen in honor of Dr. Wendell E. Wilson, editor and publisher of the Mineralogical Record.
Co-Type Localities:
Dimorph of:
Isostructural with:
Classification of Wendwilsonite
Approved
Approval year:
1985
7/C.17-90
8.CG.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:1
40.2.3.4
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O
20.10.5
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
10 : Arsenates of Co and Ni
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
10 : Arsenates of Co and Ni
Physical Properties of Wendwilsonite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Pale pink to red.
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Density:
3.478 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Wendwilsonite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.694 nβ = 1.703 nγ = 1.713
2V:
Measured: 87° , Calculated: 88°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.019

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:
High
Dispersion:
weak to distinct
Chemical Properties of Wendwilsonite
Formula:
Ca2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2O
Often contains some Co replacing Mg.
Often contains some Co replacing Mg.
Crystallography of Wendwilsonite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.806 Å, b = 12.923 Å, c = 5.628 Å
β = 107.49°
β = 107.49°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.449 : 1 : 0.436
Unit Cell V:
402.75 ų
Z:
2
Crystal Structure
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0007158 | Wendwilsonite | Kolitsch U, Fleck M (2006) Third update on compounds with krohnkite-type chains: the crystal structure of wendwilsonite [Ca2Mg(AsO4)2*2H2O] and the new triclinic structure types of synthetic AgSc(CrO4)2*2H2O and M2Cu(Cr2O7)2*2H2O (M = Rb, Cs) European Journal of Mineralogy 18 471-482 | 2006 | Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Type Occurrence of Wendwilsonite
Synonyms of Wendwilsonite
Other Language Names for Wendwilsonite
Relationship of Wendwilsonite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Brandtite | Ca2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Kröhnkite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Roselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Rruffite | Ca2Cu(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Unnamed (Fe2+-analogue of Brandtite) | Ca2Fe2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | |
Zincroselite | Ca2Zn(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
12 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
9 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
7 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Cobaltaustinite | CaCo(AsO4)(OH) |
7 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
6 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Skutterudite | CoAs3 |
6 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Nickelaustinite | CaNi(AsO4)(OH) |
5 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Roselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
4 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Talmessite | Ca2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
3 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Cobaltlotharmeyerite | CaCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
2 photos of Wendwilsonite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
8.CG.05 | Cassidyite | Ca2Ni(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
8.CG.05 | Collinsite | Ca2Mg(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CG.05 | Fairfieldite | Ca2Mn2+(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CG.05 | Gaitite | Ca2Zn(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CG.05 | Messelite | Ca2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CG.05 | Parabrandtite | Ca2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
8.CG.05 | β-Roselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
8.CG.05 | Talmessite | Ca2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
8.CG.05 | Hillite | Ca2(Zn,Mg)(PO4)2 · 2 H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CG.10 | Brandtite | Ca2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.CG.10 | Roselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.CG.10 | Zincroselite | Ca2Zn(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. |
8.CG.10 | Rruffite | Ca2Cu(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.CG.15 | Ferrilotharmeyerite | CaZnFe3+(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Lotharmeyerite | CaZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Mawbyite | PbFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. |
8.CG.15 | Mounanaite | PbFe3+2(VO4)2(OH,F)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Thometzekite | PbCu2+2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Tsumcorite | PbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. |
8.CG.15 | Cobaltlotharmeyerite | CaCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Cabalzarite | CaMg2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Krettnichite | PbMn3+2(VO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Cobalttsumcorite | PbCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Nickellotharmeyerite | CaNi2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Manganlotharmeyerite | CaMn3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Schneebergite | BiCo2(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.15 | Nickelschneebergite | BiNi2(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.CG.20 | Gartrellite | PbCuFe3+(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CG.20 | Helmutwinklerite | PbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
8.CG.20 | Zincgartrellite | PbZn2(AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CG.20 | Rappoldite | PbCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
8.CG.20 | Phosphogartrellite | PbCuFe3+(PO4)2(OH,H2O)2 | Tric. |
8.CG.20 | Lukrahnite | CaCuFe3+(AsO4)2(OH,H2O)2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CG.25 | Pottsite | (Pb3xBi4-2x)(VO4)4 · H2O (0.8 < x < 1.0) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
8.CG.35 | Nickeltalmessite | Ca2Ni(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
40.2.3.1 | Roselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
40.2.3.2 | Brandtite | Ca2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
40.2.3.3 | Zincroselite | Ca2Zn(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. |
40.2.3.5 | Nickeltalmessite | Ca2Ni(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
20.10.1 | Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
20.10.2 | Cobaltaustinite | CaCo(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21 |
20.10.3 | Roselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
20.10.4 | β-Roselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
20.10.6 | Cobaltkoritnigite | (Co,Zn)(HAsO4) · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
20.10.7 | Aerugite | Ni8.5(AsO4)2As5+O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
20.10.8 | Xanthiosite | Ni3(AsO4)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
20.10.9 | Annabergite | Ni3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
20.10.10 | Smolyaninovite | Co3Fe3+2(AsO4)4 · 11H2O | Orth. |
20.10.11 | Nickelaustinite | CaNi(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21 |
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.
References for Wendwilsonite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Dunn, P. J., Sturman, B. D., Nelen, J. A. (1987): Wendwilsonite, the magnesium analogue of roselite, from Morocco, New Jersey, and Mexico, and new data on roselite. American Mineralogist, 72, 217-221.
Weiss, S., Lengauer, C.L., Parodi, G.C. (2002): Roselith, Wendwilsonit und kobalthaltiger Talmessit aus Bou Azzer, Marokko. Lapis 27 (1), 37-41; 58. (in German)
Kolitsch, U. & Fleck, M. (2006): Third update on compounds with kröhnkite-type chains: the crystal structure of wendwilsonite [Ca2Mg(AsO4)2·2H2O] and the new triclinic structure types of AgSc(CrO4)2·2H2O and M2Cu(Cr2O7)2·2H2O (M = Rb, Cs). European Journal of Mineralogy, 18, 471-482.
Internet Links for Wendwilsonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4268.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Wendwilsonite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Azerbaijan | |
| Pekov, I. V., Vinogradova, R. A., Chukanov, N. V., & Kulikova, I. M. (2001). On magnesian and cobalt arsenates of the fairfieldite and roselite groups. Zapiski Vseross. Mineral. Obshch.(Proc. Russ. Miner. Soc.), 130(4), 10-23. |
Chile | |
| samples analysed by Gerhard Mohn and Joy Desor; XRD (by Joachim Lorenz), EDX (by Nikita V. Chukanov) |
| samples analysed by Anthony Kampf, Curator Emeritus of Mineral Sciences at NHM of LAC, California |
Germany | |
| J. Gröbner und U. Kolitsch (2005), Lapis 30 (7-8), 71-73; 81-82; Kolitsch, U. and Fleck, M. (2006): Third update on compounds with kröhnkite-type chains: the crystal structure of wendwilsonite [Ca2Mg(AsO4)2·2H2O] and the new triclinic structure types of AgSc(CrO4)2·2H2O and M2Cu(Cr2O7)2·2H2O (M = Rb, Cs). Eur. J. Mineral. 18, 471-482. |
Morocco (TL) | |
| Dunn, P.J., et al (1987) American Mineralogist:72: 217-221. |
| |
Favreau, G. and Dietrich, J. E. (2006). Die Mineralien von Bou Azzer. Lapis 31(7/8), 27-68; Meisser, N.; Brugger, J.; Krivovichev, S.; Armbruster, T.; Favreau, G. (2012): Description and crystal structure of maghrebite, MgAl2(AsO4)2(OH)2•8H2O, from Aghbar, Anti-Atlas, Morocco: first arsenate in the laueite mineral group. European Journal of Mineralogy 24, 717-726. | |
Favreau, G. and Dietrich, J. E. (2006). Die Mineralien von Bou Azzer. Lapis 31(7/8), 27-68 | |
USA (TL) | |
| Dunn, P.J., et al: Am.Min.:72:217-221 (1987); Dunn(1995):Pt5:685. |
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Bou Azzer Mine, Ouisselsate Caïdat, Amerzgane Cercle, Ouarzazate Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco