Wooldridgeite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Wooldridgeite
Formula:
Na2CaCu2+2(P2O7)2 · 10H2O
Colour:
Blue-green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.279 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after James Wooldridge (1923-1995), keen amateur mineralogist, micromounter and gemologist from Fernhill Heath, Worcestershire, U.K., who discovered the material.
The second diphosphate (pyrophosphate) to be discovered, probably a post-mining/post-collecting anthropogenic alteration.
Synthetic woooldridgeite can be made simply using a solution of copper and calcium ions to which the commercial pyrophospate-based cleaning agent 'calgon' - used by collectors to remove clay minerals from specimen - has been added, and it is quite possible that the material from the type locality may have been cleaned using such a compound by the original collector.
Compare canaphite, anastasenkoite; canaphite; 'pyrophosphite', 'pyrocoproite', and 'arnhemite'.
See also UM1991-10-PO:BaCaHMgSr.
Synthetic woooldridgeite can be made simply using a solution of copper and calcium ions to which the commercial pyrophospate-based cleaning agent 'calgon' - used by collectors to remove clay minerals from specimen - has been added, and it is quite possible that the material from the type locality may have been cleaned using such a compound by the original collector.
Compare canaphite, anastasenkoite; canaphite; 'pyrophosphite', 'pyrocoproite', and 'arnhemite'.
See also UM1991-10-PO:BaCaHMgSr.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7371
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7371:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
10895535-950c-4de3-8118-07deb3d2b5e4
IMA Classification of Wooldridgeite
Approved
Approval year:
1997
First published:
1999
Classification of Wooldridgeite
8.FC.25
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
C : Polyphosphates, etc., with H2O only
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
C : Polyphosphates, etc., with H2O only
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Woo | 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 Wooldridgeite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Blue-green
Streak:
Very pale blue
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Density:
2.279 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Wooldridgeite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.508(1) nβ = 1.511(1) nγ = 1.517(1)
2V:
Measured: 76° , Calculated: 72°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.009
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:
none
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Wooldridgeite
Mindat Formula:
Na2CaCu2+2(P2O7)2 · 10H2O
Crystallography of Wooldridgeite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Fdd2
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.938(1) Å, b = 32.854(2) Å, c = 11.017(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.363 : 1 : 0.335
Unit Cell V:
4321.2 ų
Z:
8
Morphology:
Crystals have a rhombic-dipyramidal form, sometimes with subtly curved faces.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005593 | Wooldridgeite | Cooper M A, Hawthorne F C (1999) The crystal structure of wooldridgeite, Na2CaCu2(P2O7)2(H2O)10, a novel copper pyrophosphate mineral The Canadian Mineralogist 37 73-81 |  | 1999 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.23 Å | (30) |
| 6.52 Å | (100) |
| 4.05 Å | (40) |
| 3.255 Å | (40) |
| 2. 924 Å | (40) |
Type Occurrence of Wooldridgeite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Pale-blue crystals up to 2 mm across.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Manchester Museum, Manchester, England, N13200.
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(Na1.96K0.03)Ca1.00(Cu1.85Mg0.04)P4.04O14(H2O)10
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| P2O5 | 39.37 % |
|---|---|
| CuO | 20.24 % |
| CaO | 7.73 % |
| Na2O | 8.33 % |
| K2O | 0.17 % |
| MgO | 0.24 % |
| H2O (calc) | 24.72 % |
| Total: | 100.8 % |
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Hawthorne F C, Cooper M A, Green D I, Starkey R E, Roberts A C, Grice J D (1999) Wooldridgeite, Na2CaCu22+(P2O7)2(H2O)10: a new mineral from Judkins Quarry, Warwickshire, England. Mineralogical Magazine: 63: 13-16
Synonyms of Wooldridgeite
Other Language Names for Wooldridgeite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Wooldridgeite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 2 photos of Wooldridgeite associated with Yarrowite | Cu9S8 |
| 1 photo of Wooldridgeite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 1 photo of Wooldridgeite associated with Covellite | CuS |
| 1 photo of Wooldridgeite associated with Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.FC.X | Hylbrownite | Na3Mg(P3O10) · 12H2O |
| 8.FC. | Donowensite | Ca(H2O)3Fe3+2(V2O7)2 |
| 8.FC.05 | Fianelite | Mn2+2((V,As)2O7) · 2H2O |
| 8.FC.05 | Rüdlingerite | Mn2+2V5+As5+O7 · 2H2O |
| 8.FC.10 | Canaphite | Na2Ca(P2O7) · 4H2O |
| 8.FC.15 | Pintadoite | Ca2(V2O7) · 9H2O |
| 8.FC.20 | Arnhemite | (K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O |
| 8.FC.30 | Kanonerovite | Na3Mn2+(P3O10) · 12H2O |
| 8.FC.35 | Mesaite | CaMn2+5(V2O7)3 · 12H2O |
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 Wooldridgeite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7371.html
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References for Wooldridgeite
Reference List:
Hawthorne, F. C., Cooper, M. A., Green, D. I., Starkey, R. E., Roberts, A. C., Grice, J. D. (1999) Wooldridgeite, Na2CaCu2+2(P2O7)2(H2O)10: A new mineral from Judkins Quarry, Warwickshire, England. Mineralogical Magazine, 63 (1) 13-16 doi:10.1180/002646199548268
Cooper, M. A., Hawthorne, F. C. (1999) The crystal structure of wooldridgeite, Na2CaCu2+2(P2O7)2(H2O)10, a novel copper pyrophosphate mineral. The Canadian Mineralogist, 37 (1) 73-81
Localities for Wooldridgeite
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 | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2019) |
UK | |
| Cooper et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
| Hawthorne et al. (1999) |
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Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany