Monohydrocalcite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Monohydrocalcite
Formula:
CaCO3 · H2O
Colour:
Colourless, white (especially if dehydrated)
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.95
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in 1964 by Evgeny Ivanovich Semenov for the chemical relation to calcite and because it contains one ('mono') water molecule ('hydro').
Type Locality:
Compare Unnamed (Amorphous Calcium Carbonate).
An elevated magnesium content and a low temperature are favourable for monohydrocalcite formation (Vereshchagin et al., 2021).
Note: In syntheses, a metastable precursor phase with the formula Ca(CO3).0.5H2O was found that later transforms into monohydrocalcite (Zou et al., 2019).
An elevated magnesium content and a low temperature are favourable for monohydrocalcite formation (Vereshchagin et al., 2021).
Note: In syntheses, a metastable precursor phase with the formula Ca(CO3).0.5H2O was found that later transforms into monohydrocalcite (Zou et al., 2019).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2758
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2758:4
IMA Classification of Monohydrocalcite
Approved
IMA Formula:
CaCO3·H2O
Approval year:
1964
Type description reference:
Classification of Monohydrocalcite
5.CB.20
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
15.1.3.1
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
11.4.4
11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mhcal | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Monohydrocalcite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Monohydrocalcite
Transparency:
Transparent, Opaque
Colour:
Colourless, white (especially if dehydrated)
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Density:
2.95 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.48 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured 2.95 from type desc.; measured 2.38 synthetic
Optical Data of Monohydrocalcite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.545 - 1.546 nε = 1.590 - 1.591
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.045
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
Chemistry of Monohydrocalcite
Mindat Formula:
CaCO3 · H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Mg
Crystallography of Monohydrocalcite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
P31
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.554 Å, c = 7.545 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.715
Unit Cell V:
727.82 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
spheroids and crusts.
Comment:
Subcell (space group P3121): 6.0931, 7.5446 A.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0004611 | Monohydrocalcite | Swainson I P (2008) The structure of monohydrocalcite and the phase composition of the beachrock deposits of Lake Butler and Lake Fellmongery, South Australia American Mineralogist 93 1014-1018 |  | 2008 | Lakes Butler and Fellmongery, Robe, South Australia | 0 | 293 |
| 0014666 | Monohydrocalcite | Effenberger E (1981) Kristallstruktur und infrarot-absorptionsspektrum von synthetischem monohydrocalcit, CaCO3*H2O Superstructure Monatshefte fur Chemie 112 899-909 | 1981 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0014665 | Monohydrocalcite | Effenberger E (1981) Kristallstruktur und infrarot-absorptionsspektrum von synthetischem monohydrocalcit, CaCO3*H2O Substructure Monatshefte fur Chemie 112 899-909 | 1981 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.49 Å | (9) |
| 3.15 Å | (9) |
| 2.90 Å | (8) |
| 2.17 Å | (10) |
| 1.926 Å | (10) |
| 1.770 Å | (7) |
| 1.746 Å | (7) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 21 : Chemically precipitated carbonate, phosphate, iron formations | |
| 24 : Authigenic minerals in terrestrial sediments (see also #17) | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44) | <0.54 |
| 53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
Geological Setting:
In lake-bed sediments and as tuffaceous deposits on lake margins, by biological activity; in caves
Type Occurrence of Monohydrocalcite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 72027.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
lake-bed sediments
Synonyms of Monohydrocalcite
Trihydrocalcite (in part)
Other Language Names for Monohydrocalcite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Monohydrocalcite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 7 photos of Monohydrocalcite associated with Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 6 photos of Monohydrocalcite associated with Vaterite | CaCO3 |
| 2 photos of Monohydrocalcite associated with Callaghanite | Cu2Mg2(CO3)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Monohydrocalcite associated with Lanarkite | Pb2(SO4)O |
| 1 photo of Monohydrocalcite associated with Rapidcreekite | Ca2(SO4)(CO3) · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Monohydrocalcite associated with Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Monohydrocalcite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Monohydrocalcite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 1 photo of Monohydrocalcite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.CB. | Piilonenite-(Nd) | NaNd(CO3)2(H2O)3 |
| 5.CB. | Paulišite | Ca2Zn(CO3)3 · 2H2O |
| 5.CB.05 | Thermonatrite | Na2CO3 · H2O |
| 5.CB.10 | Natron | Na2CO3 · 10H2O |
| 5.CB.15 | Trona | Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O |
| 5.CB.25 | Ikaite | CaCO3 · 6H2O |
| 5.CB.30 | Pirssonite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O |
| 5.CB.35 | Gaylussite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O |
| 5.CB.40 | Chalconatronite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 · 3H2O |
| 5.CB.45 | Baylissite | K2Mg(CO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 5.CB.50 | Tuliokite | Na6BaTh(CO3)6 · 6H2O |
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 Monohydrocalcite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2758.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Monohydrocalcite
Reference List:
Marschner, Hannelore (1969) Hydrocalcite (CaCO3·H2O) and Nesquehonite (MgCO3·3H2O) in Carbonate Scales. Science, 165 (3898). 1119-1121 doi:10.1126/science.165.3898.1119
Broughton, Paul L. (1972) Monohydrocalcite in speleothems: An alternative interpretation. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 36 (2) 171-174 doi:10.1007/bf00371187
Hull, H, Turnbull, A.G (1973) A thermochemical study of monohydrocalcite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 37 (3) 685-694 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(73)90227-5
STOFFERS, PETER, FISCHBECK, REINHARD (1974) Monohydrocalcite in the sediments of Lake Kivu (East Africa). Sedimentology, 21 (1). 163-170 doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.1974.tb01787.x
Taylor, Graham, F. (1975) The occurrence of monohydrocalcite in two small lakes in the south-east of South Australia. American Mineralogist, 60 (7-8) 690-697
Skinner, H. Catherine W., Osbaldiston, G. W., Wilner, Andrew N. (1977) Monohydrocalcite in a guinea pig bladder stone, a novel occurence. American Mineralogist, 62 (3-4) 273-277
Effenberger, Herta (1981) Kristallstruktur und Infrarot-Absorptionsspektrum von synthetischem Monohydrocalcit, CaCO3·H2O. Monatshefte für Chemie, 112. 899-909 doi:10.1007/bf00905061
Tlili, M. M., Amor, M. Ben, Gabrielli, C., Joiret, S., Maurin, G., Rousseau, P. (2002) Characterization of CaCO3 hydrates by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 33 (1). 10-16 doi:10.1002/jrs.806
Garvie, Laurence A.J. (2003) Decay-induced biomineralization of the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) American Mineralogist, 88 (11) 1879-1888 doi:10.2138/am-2003-11-1231
Coleyshaw, Esther E, Crump, Gregory, Griffith, William P (2003) Vibrational spectra of the hydrated carbonate minerals ikaite, monohydrocalcite, lansfordite and nesquehonite. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 59 (10) 2231-2239 doi:10.1016/s1386-1425(03)00067-2
Dahl, K., Buchardt, B. (2006) Monohydrocalcite in the Arctic Ikka Fjord, SW Greenland: First Reported Marine Occurrence. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 76 (3) 460-471 doi:10.2110/jsr.2006.035
Swainson, I. P. (2008) The structure of monohydrocalcite and the phase composition of the beachrock deposits of Lake Butler and Lake Fellmongery, South Australia. American Mineralogist, 93 (7) 1014-1018 doi:10.2138/am.2008.2825
Wang, Yu-Ying, Yao, Qi-Zhi, Zhou, Gen-Tao, Fu, Sheng-Quan (2015) Transformation of amorphous calcium carbonate into monohydrocalcite in aqueous solution: a biomimetic mineralization study. European Journal of Mineralogy, 27 (6) 717-729 doi:10.1127/ejm/2015/0027-2486
Mikuš, Tomáš; Patúš, Martin; Luptáková, Jarmila; Bancík, Tomáš; Biroň, Adrián (2017) Mineralogická charakteristika asociácie sekundárnych karbonátov vápnika zo Španej Doliny - prvý nález monohydrokalcitu z rudných ložísk na území Slovenska [Mineralogical characteristics of the secondary calcium carbonates association from the Špania Dolina - The first occurrence of monohydrocalcite in ore deposits in Slovakia]. Bulletin Mineralogie Petrologie, 25 (2). p.318-326.
Makovicky, Emil (2018) The order–disorder potential of the crystal structure of monohydrocalcite, CaCO3·H2O. Mineralogy and Petrology, 112 (1) 105-109 doi:10.1007/s00710-017-0521-3
Zou, Zhaoyong, Habraken, Wouter J. E. M., Matveeva, Galina, Jensen, Anders C. S., Bertinetti, Luca, Hood, Matthew A., Sun, Chang-yu, Gilbert, Pupa U. P. A., Polishchuk, Iryna, Pokroy, Boaz, Mahamid, Julia, Politi, Yael, Weiner, Steve, Werner, Peter, Bette, Sebastian, Dinnebier, Robert, Kolb, Ute, Zolotoyabko, Emil, Fratzl, Peter (2019) A hydrated crystalline calcium carbonate phase: Calcium carbonate hemihydrate. Science, 363 (6425). 396-400 doi:10.1126/science.aav0210
Localities for Monohydrocalcite
Showing 81 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.
Africa | |
| STOFFERS et al. (1974) | |
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Gablina et al. (2018) |
Australia | |
| Taylor et al. (1975) +1 other reference |
| Taylor et al. (1975) +1 other reference | |
| Everard et al. (1997) +1 other reference |
| MacLeod (1991) |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2013) |
| Heppner (1986) |
| Kolitsch (2013) |
| Neschen (n.d.) |
| peter neschen collection |
Canada | |
| Grice et al. (2005) |
| Grice et al. (1996) | |
| Grice et al. (2005) |
| Last (1990) |
| Last et al. (2013) | |
Chile | |
| Zaytseva et al. (2021) |
China | |
| Minghui Li et al. (2008) |
Czech Republic | |
| |
| Kohout et al. (1995) |
| Ondruš et al. (1989) | |
| Hloušek et al. (2002) |
| Matýsek et al. (2026) |
Europe | |
| ATANASSOVA +1 other reference | |
France | |
| Bari (1982) |
| Wittern et al. (1997) |
| Same mineralogy than superior level. | |
| Bari (1982) | |
Germany | |
| Blaß et al. (1999) |
| Walenta (1992) |
| American Mineralogist: 76: 2021. |
| Blaß et al. (2001) | |
| Fischbeck et al. (1971) +1 other reference |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1991) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Blaß et al. (1995) |
| Schnorrer (1993) |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1990) |
| Blaß et al. (1995) |
| Blaß et al. (1995) |
| Blaß et al. (1995) |
| Neschen (n.d.) |
| C.Auer (2019) |
| Knoll (2004) |
| Gerhard Möhn collection | |
| Rüger (1995) |
Greenland | |
| Petersen et al. (1993) |
| Stockmann et al. (2022) |
| Dahl et al. (2006) | |
Ireland | |
| S. MORETON et al. (1999) |
Italy | |
| Rivista Mineralogica Italiana (Avril/Juin) |
| Menchetti et al. (2015) |
Japan | |
| Ito (1993) |
Kyrgyzstan (TL) | |
| Řidkošil et al. (1991) +1 other reference |
Mexico | |
| Forti (2006) |
Mongolia | |
| Fukushi +6 other references |
| Fukushi +6 other references |
Namibia | |
| Martini et al. (1999) |
Norway | |
| Kvamsdal (2023) |
| Johansen (2024) |
Poland | |
| Kruszewski et al. (2020) |
Romania | |
| Slavoaca |
| Onac (2009) |
Slovakia | |
| Mikuš et al. (2017) |
| Mikuš et al. (2017) | |
Spain | |
| B. Onac et al (2009) |
| Onac et al. (2005) |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
Tanzania | |
| ZAITSEV et al. (2006) |
UK | |
| Norman Wilson |
| Green (1987) +2 other references |
| Day (1999) |
USA | |
| Grant et al. (2005) |
| Leveille +2 other references |
| George W. Robinson and S.M. Carlson (2009) |
| Dunn (1979) +2 other references |
| NSS Bulletin 56:27-24 (1994) | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
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Carpenara slag locality, Varenna Valley, Genoa, Genoa, Liguria, Italy