Whelanite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Whelanite
Formula:
Cu2+2Ca6[Si6O17(OH)](CO3)(OH)3 · 2H2O
Colour:
Pale blue, greenish blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
2.74
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Honours James ("Jim") A. Whelan (25 September 1928, Steele County, Minnesota, USA – 16 April 2003), professor of mineralogy at the University of Utah where he taught mineralogy, geology, and geological engineering from 1958 to 1992. He did geology work for the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey. He also consulted for several mining companies and worked for the U.S. Bureau of Mines. Pronounced WEE-lan-ite.
This page provides mineralogical data about Whelanite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
11215
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:11215:2
Similar Names
| Welinite | A valid IMA mineral species | Mn62+(W6+,Mg)2(SiO4)2(O,OH)6 |
IMA Classification of Whelanite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Cu2+2Ca6[Si6O17(OH)](CO3)(OH)3·2H2O
Approval year:
1977
First published:
2012
Type description reference:
Classification of Whelanite
9.DG.67
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Wla | 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 Whelanite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale blue, greenish blue
Streak:
Pale blue
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
perfect on {001} and good on {010}
perfect on {001} and good on {010}
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
2.74 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.738 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Whelanite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.612(2) nβ = 1.622 nγ = 1.626
2V:
Measured: 64°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.014
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
X = Y (pale blue) < Z (light blue)
Comments:
The β RI was calculated from 2V (thinness of crystals).
Chemistry of Whelanite
Mindat Formula:
Cu2+2Ca6[Si6O17(OH)](CO3)(OH)3 · 2H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Whelanite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Pnn2
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.6551 Å, b = 3.683 Å, c = 27.1372 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.535 : 1 : 7.368
Unit Cell V:
565.3 ų
Z:
1
Morphology:
Irregular clusters and radial aggregates of platy to lath-like crystals up to 1 mm in length, flattened on {001} and elongated on [100]
Comment:
Pn2n
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019727 | Whelanite | Kampf A R, Mills S J, Merlino S, Pasero M, McDonald A M, Wray W B, Hindman J R (2012) Whelanite, Cu2Ca6[Si6O17(OH)](CO3)(OH)3(H2O)2, an (old) new mineral from the Bawana mine, Milford, Utah American Mineralogist 97 2007-2015 | 2012 | the Bawana mine, Milford, Utah | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.79 Å | (004) 52 |
| 3.072 Å | (111) 43 |
| 3.013 Å | (112) 100 |
| 2.921 Å | (113) 39 |
| 2.802 Å | (114) 45 |
| 2.522 Å | (116 205) 44 |
| 1.839 Å | (020 1.1.12) 37 |
Type Occurrence of Whelanite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Irregular clusters and radial aggregates of platy to lath-like crystals up to 1 mm in length.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Smithsonian Institution (U.S. National Museum of Natural History) and the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (now known as the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Found in a copper-rich, diopside–garnet–magnetite skarn
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Whelanite
Other Language Names for Whelanite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 19 photos of Whelanite associated with Stringhamite | CaCu(SiO4) · H2O |
| 7 photos of Whelanite associated with Thaumasite | Ca3(SO4)[Si(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O |
| 5 photos of Whelanite associated with Xonotlite | Ca6(Si6O17)(OH)2 |
| 5 photos of Whelanite associated with Tobermorite | Ca5Si6O17 · 5H2O |
| 4 photos of Whelanite associated with Kinoite | Ca2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10] |
| 1 photo of Whelanite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 1 photo of Whelanite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Whelanite associated with Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DG. | Barrydawsonite-(Y) | Na1.5Y0.5CaSi3O8(OH) |
| 9.DG. | Paratobermorite | Ca5AlSi5O16(OH) · 5H2O |
| 9.DG. | Calcinaksite | KNaCa(Si4O10) · H2O |
| 9.DG. | Alvesite | NaKZrSi6O15 · 2H2O |
| 9.DG.02 | Steedeite | NaMn2[Si3BO9](OH)2 |
| 9.DG.02 | Nolzeite | NaMn2[Si3BO9](OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 9.DG.05 | Murakamiite | LiCa2Si3O8(OH) |
| 9.DG.05 | Serandite | NaMn2+2Si3O8(OH) |
| 9.DG.05 | Bustamite | CaMn2+(Si2O6) |
| 9.DG.05 | Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
| 9.DG.05 | Tanohataite | LiMn2Si3O8(OH) |
| 9.DG.05 | Dalnegorskite | Ca5Mn2+(Si3O9)2 |
| 9.DG.05 | 'Wollastonite-1A' | CaSiO3 |
| 9.DG.05 | Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| 9.DG.05 | Ferrobustamite | CaFe2+(Si2O6) |
| 9.DG.05 | Schizolite | NaCaMnSi3O8(OH) |
| 9.DG.07 | Cascandite | CaScSi3O8(OH) |
| 9.DG.08 | Plombièrite | Ca5Si6O16(OH)2 · 7H2O |
| 9.DG.10 | Clinotobermorite | Ca5Si6O17 · 5H2O |
| 9.DG.10 | Riversideite | Ca5Si6O16(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 9.DG.10 | Tobermorite | Ca5Si6O17 · 5H2O |
| 9.DG.12 | Jusite | Na2Ca15Al4Si16O54 · 17H2O |
| 9.DG.12 | Kenotobermorite | Ca4Si6O15(OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 9.DG.15 | Foshagite | Ca4(Si3O9)(OH)2 |
| 9.DG.20 | Jennite | Ca9(Si3O9)2(OH)8 · 8H2O |
| 9.DG.20 | Kamenevite | K2TiSi3O9 · H2O |
| 9.DG.25 | Paraumbite | K3Zr2H(Si3O9)2 · nH2O |
| 9.DG.25 | Umbite | K2(Zr,Ti)Si3O9 · H2O |
| 9.DG.30 | Sørensenite | Na4SnBe2Si6O16(OH)4 |
| 9.DG.32 | Escheite | Ca2NaMnTi5[Si12O34]O2(OH)3 · 12H2O |
| 9.DG.35 | Xonotlite | Ca6(Si6O17)(OH)2 |
| 9.DG.40 | Hillebrandite | Ca2(SiO3)(OH)2 |
| 9.DG.45 | Zorite | Na8(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,O)5 · 14H2O |
| 9.DG.45 | Chivruaiite | Ca4(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,O)5 · 13-14H2O |
| 9.DG.50 | Haineaultite | (Na,Ca)5Ca(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,F)8 · 5H2O |
| 9.DG.55 | Epididymite | Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O |
| 9.DG.60 | Eudidymite | Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O |
| 9.DG.65 | Elpidite | Na2ZrSi6O15 · 3H2O |
| 9.DG.65 | Patynite | NaKCa4[Si9O23] |
| 9.DG.70 | Enricofrancoite | KNaCaSi4O10 |
| 9.DG.70 | Yusupovite | Na2Zr(Si6O15) · 2.5H2O |
| 9.DG.70 | Litidionite | KNaCuSi4O10 |
| 9.DG.70 | Fenaksite | (K,Na)4(Fe,Mn)2(Si4O10)2(OH,F) |
| 9.DG.70 | Manaksite | KNaMnSi4O10 |
| 9.DG.75 | Senkevichite | CsKNaCa2TiO[Si7O18](OH) |
| 9.DG.75 | Tinaksite | K2Na(Ca,Mn2+)2TiO[Si7O18(OH)] |
| 9.DG.75 | Tokkoite | K2Ca4[Si7O18(OH)](OH,F) |
| 9.DG.80 | Fluorcanasite | K3Na3Ca5Si12O30F4 · H2O |
| 9.DG.80 | Canasite | K3Na3Ca5Si12O30(OH)4 |
| 9.DG.85 | Miserite | K1.5-x(Ca,Y,REE)5(Si6O15)(Si2O7)(OH,F)2 · yH2O |
| 9.DG.90 | Frankamenite | K3Na3Ca5(Si12O30)(F,OH)4 · H2O |
| 9.DG.92 | Charoite | (K,Sr)15-16(Ca,Na)32[Si6O11(O,OH)6]2[Si12O18(O,OH)12]2[Si17O25(O,OH)18]2(OH,F)4 · ~3H2O |
| 9.DG.95 | Yuksporite | K4(Ca,Na)14(Sr,Ba)2(◻,Mn,Fe)(Ti,Nb)4(O,OH)4(Si6O17)2(Si2O7)3(H2O,OH)3 |
| 9.DG.97 | Eveslogite | (Na,K,Ca,Sr,Ba)48 [(Ti,Nb,Mn,Fe2+)12Si48O144(OH)12](F,OH,Cl)14 |
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 Whelanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-11215.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Whelanite
Reference List:
Murdoch, Joseph (1961) Crestmore, past and present. American Mineralogist, 46 (3-4) 245-257 [as Mineral Y; cf. http://www.mindat.org/mesg-6-55440.html]
Kampf, A. R., Mills, S. J., Merlino, S., Pasero, M., McDonald, A. M., Wray, W. B., Hindman, J. R. (2012) Whelanite, Cu2Ca6[Si6O17(OH)](CO3)(OH)3(H2O)2, an (old) new mineral from the Bawana mine, Milford, Utah. American Mineralogist, 97 (11) 2007-2015 doi:10.2138/am.2012.4181
Localities for Whelanite
Showing 5 localities.
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.
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) +1 other reference |
| Kampf et al. (2012) |
| Kampf et al. (2012) |
| Kampf et al. (2012) |
| Atagnis Tairitsu Collection |
Quick NavTopAbout WhelaniteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Christmas Mine, Christmas, Banner Mining District, Gila County, Arizona, USA