Earlandite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Earlandite
Arthur Earland
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.
Type Locality:
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
IMA Classification of Earlandite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ca3(C6H5O7)3-2·4H2O
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r > v
Chemistry of Earlandite
Mindat Formula:
Ca3[CH2(COO)-CHOH(COO)-CH2(COO)]2 · 4H2O
Element Weights:
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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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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:
Other Language Names for Earlandite
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
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Earlandite
Reference List:
Bannister, F.A., Hey, M.H. (1936) Report on some crystalline components of the Weddell Sea deposits. Discovery Reports, 13. 60-69
Localities for Earlandite
Showing 1 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.
Antarctica (TL) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Quick NavTopAbout EarlanditeUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
71°22'S; 16°34'W, Weddell Sea, West Antarctica, Antarctica