Wheatleyite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Wheatleyite
Formula:
Na2Cu(C2O4)2 · 2H2O
Colour:
Bright blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
2.27
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, the Wheatley Mines, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA.
The second Na-Cu oxalate mineral after antipinite (that also contains K). Compare other Cu-bearing oxalate minerals - middlebackite, moolooite, and fiemmeite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4274
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4274:7
IMA Classification of Wheatleyite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Na2Cu2+((C2)6+O4)2·2H2O
Approval year:
1984
First published:
1986
Classification of Wheatleyite
10.AB.30
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
B : Oxalates
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
B : Oxalates
50.1.8.1
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
1 : Oxalates
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
1 : Oxalates
31.1.3
31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
1 : Oxalates
31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
1 : Oxalates
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wty | 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 Wheatleyite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Bright blue
Streak:
Light blue
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Very brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{100}; two additionally observed optically.
{100}; two additionally observed optically.
Density:
2.27(4) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.250 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Wheatleyite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.400(4) nβ = 1.499(2) nγ = 1.667(2)
2V:
Measured: 83° (5), Calculated: 84°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.267
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:
Low (negative)
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.
Dispersion:
none
Comments:
X = colorless; Y = very pale blue; Z = intense dark blue.
Chemistry of Wheatleyite
Mindat Formula:
Na2Cu(C2O4)2 · 2H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Wheatleyite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.559(3) Å, b = 9.665(4) Å, c = 3.589(1) Å
α = 76.65(2)°, β = 103.67(2)°, γ = 109.10(2)°
α = 76.65(2)°, β = 103.67(2)°, γ = 109.10(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.782 : 1 : 0.371
Unit Cell V:
237.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Twinning:
Sometimes observed on the single-crystal diffraction photographs, but the twin law was not determined.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012692 | Wheatleyite | Gleizes A, Maury F, Galy J (1980) Crystal structure and magnetism of solum bis(oxalato)cuprate(II) dihydrate, Na2Cu(C2O4)2*2H2O. A deductive proposal for the structure of copper oxalate, CuC2O4*xH2O (0 < x < 1) Inorganic Chemistry 19 2074-2078 | 1980 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0009715 | Wheatleyite | Chananont P, Nixon P E, Waters J M, Water T N (1980) The structure of disodium catena-bis(mu-oxalato)-cuprate(II) dihydrate Acta Crystallographica B36 2145-2147 |  | 1980 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.539 Å | (100) |
| 3.169 Å | (90) |
| 7.045 Å | (80) |
| 3.655 Å | (50) |
| 2.799 Å | (40) |
| 2.538 Å | (30) |
| 2.497 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Wheatleyite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada, 80196.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 162531.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 162531.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Vein-type lead-zinc deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Wheatleyite
Other Language Names for Wheatleyite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 10.AB. | Deveroite-(Ce) | Ce2(C2O4)3 · 10H2O |
| 10.AB. | Edwindavisite | Cu(C2O4)(NH3) |
| 10.AB.X | Falottaite | MnC2O4 · 3H2O |
| 10.AB. | Uroxite | [(UO2)2(C2O4)(OH)2(H2O)2] · H2O |
| 10.AB.05 | Katsarosite | Zn(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.05 | Andreybulakhite | Ni(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.05 | Humboldtine | Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.05 | Lindbergite | Mn2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.10 | Glushinskite | Mg(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.15 | Moolooite | Cu(C2O4) · nH2O |
| 10.AB.20 | Stepanovite | NaMgFe3+(C2O4)3 · 8-9H2O |
| 10.AB.25 | Minguzzite | K3Fe3+(C2O4)3 · 3H2O |
| 10.AB.35 | Zhemchuzhnikovite | NaMgAl(C2O4)3 · 8H2O |
| 10.AB.40 | Weddellite | Ca(C2O4) · (2.5-x)H2O |
| 10.AB.45 | Whewellite | Ca(C2O4) · H2O |
| 10.AB.47 | Fiemmeite | Cu2(C2O4)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.50 | Caoxite | Ca(C2O4) · 3H2O |
| 10.AB.50 | Middlebackite | Cu2C2O4(OH)2 |
| 10.AB.52 | Metauroxite | (UO2)2(C2O4)(OH)2(H2O)2 |
| 10.AB.55 | Oxammite | (NH4)2(C2O4) · H2O |
| 10.AB.60 | Natroxalate | Na2(C2O4) |
| 10.AB.60 | Phoxite | (NH4)2Mg2(C2O4)(PO3OH)2(H2O)4 |
| 10.AB.60 | Carboferriphoxite | [(NH4)K(H2CO3)][Fe3+(HPO4)(H2PO4)(C2O4)] |
| 10.AB.60 | Ferriphoxite | [(NH4)2K(H2O)][Fe3+(HPO4)2(C2O4)] |
| 10.AB.65 | Coskrenite-(Ce) | Ce2(SO4)2(C2O4) · 8H2O |
| 10.AB.70 | Levinsonite-(Y) | (Y,Nd,La)Al(C2O4)(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 10.AB.75 | Zugshunstite-(Ce) | (Ce,Nd,La)Al(C2O4)(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 10.AB.80 | Novgorodovaite | Ca2(C2O4)Cl2 · 2H2O |
Fluorescence of Wheatleyite
None observed.
Other Information
Notes:
Water soluble.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Must be kept dry.
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 Wheatleyite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4274.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Wheatleyite
Reference List:
Chananont, P., Nixon, P. E., Waters, J. M., Waters, T. N. (1980) The structure of disodium catena-bis(μ-oxalato)-cuprate(II) dihydrate. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 36 (9) 2145-2147 doi:10.1107/s0567740880008163
Gleizes, A., Maury, F., Galy, J. (1980) Crystal structure and magnetism of sodium bis(oxalato)cuprate(II)dihydrate, Na2Cu(C2O4)2.2H2O. A deductive proposal for the structure of copper oxalate, CuC2O4.xH2O (O <= x <= 1). Inorganic Chemistry, 19 (7). 2074-2078 doi:10.1021/ic50209a048
Localities for Wheatleyite
Showing 4 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.
Chile | |
| SEM-EDS and Raman Spectroscopy by Joy ... +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Frank-Kamenetskaya et al. (2021) |
USA | |
| Sloto (1989) |
| Acta Cryst.: B36 (1980) +1 other reference |
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Pabellón de Pica, Chanabaya, Iquique, Iquique Province, Tarapacá, Chile