Whewellite
Ca(C2O4)·H2OIMA symbol: Wheapproved
Whewellite is an organic mineral with the formula Ca(C2O4)·H2O, crystallizing in the monoclinic system. It has a Mohs hardness of 2-5, typically colorless in color, with a greasy or pearly luster, a specific gravity of 1.55-1.65.
Photos
Crystallography
| Crystal system | monoclinic crystal systemWikidata (CC0) |
|---|---|
| Space group | P 1 21/c 1 |
| Cell (Å, °) | a = 6.29, b = 14.583, c = 10.116; α = 90, β = 109.46, γ = 90 |
| Cell volume | 874.903 ų, Z = 4 |
| Axial ratios | 0.4313:1:0.6937calculated from COD 9000763 |
| Source structure | COD 9000763 (American Mineralogist, 1980) |
Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)
| d (Å) | 5.931 | 3.646 | 2.965 | 2.355 | 2.494 | 2.347 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I/I₀ | 100 | 94.6 | 57.3 | 34 | 32.3 | 30.6 |
xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9000763; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.
Physical properties
| Density (calculated) | 2.208 g/cm³calculated from COD 9000763 |
|---|---|
| Hardness (Mohs) | 2-5single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Specific gravity | 1.55-1.65 g/cm3single sourceFord, Dana's Textbook of Mineralogy, 3rd ed. (1922) |
| Color | colorlesssingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Luster | greasy, pearly, vitreoussingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
Chemistry (calculated)
| Molecular weight | 146.11 g/molcalculated from the IMA formula |
|---|---|
| Composition (wt%) | Ca 27.43%, C 16.44%, O 54.75%, H 1.38% |
Classification
| Nickel-Strunz (10th) | 10.AB.45Wikidata (CC0) |
|---|---|
| Nickel-Strunz (9th) | 10.AB.45Wikidata (CC0) |
| Dana (8th) | 50.1.1.1Wikidata (CC0) |