Whiterockite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
CaMgMn3+3O2(PO4)2(CO3)F · 5H2O
Colour:
dark red
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
2.76
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
For the type locality
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
55225
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:55225:3
IMA Classification of Whiterockite
Approved
IMA Formula:
CaMgMn3+3O2(PO4)2(CO3)F(H2O)5
Approval year:
2020
Classification of Whiterockite
8.DO.
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
O : With CO3, SO4, SiO4
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
O : With CO3, SO4, SiO4
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wrc | 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 Whiterockite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Dark red
Streak:
Pink
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
{001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.76(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.756 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Whiterockite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.660 nβ = 1.760 nγ = 1.770
2V:
Measured: 30° (1), Calculated: 33.5°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.110
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:
Very 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.
Orientation:
orientation: X ≈ c*.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
in shades of red-brown
X < Y < Z.
X < Y < Z.
Chemistry of Whiterockite
Mindat Formula:
CaMgMn3+3O2(PO4)2(CO3)F · 5H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Whiterockite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.112 Å, b = 6.455 Å, c = 10.667 Å
β = 102.61°
β = 102.61°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.721 : 1 : 1.653
Unit Cell V:
746.67 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.385 Å | (100) |
| 5.247 Å | (83) |
| 2.760 Å | (46) |
| 2.625 Å | (52) |
| 2.012 Å | (23) |
| 2.069 Å | (23) |
| 1.741 Å | (35) |
| 1.610 Å | (38) |
Reference:
Comments:
From Type Description.
Type Occurrence of Whiterockite
General Appearance of Type Material:
aggregates of thin platy dark-red crystals to 0.7 mm across with individual crystals up to 0.2 mm in across.
Whiterockite occurs as aggregates of crystals to 0.7 mm across. Individual crystals are thin six-sided plates up to 0.2 mm in width with a thickness of about 1–2 μm
Whiterockite occurs as aggregates of crystals to 0.7 mm across. Individual crystals are thin six-sided plates up to 0.2 mm in width with a thickness of about 1–2 μm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia, registration number G34889
Geological Setting of Type Material:
formed from hydrothermal alteration and weathering in an oxidising, low-temperature and low-pH environment from a rare-element pegmatite enriched in lithophile elements and characterised by abundant beryl and apatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Whiterockite
Other Language Names for Whiterockite
Dutch:Whiterockiet
German:Whiterockit
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.DO.05 | Girvasite | NaCa2Mg3(PO4)3(CO3)(H2O)6 |
| 8.DO.10 | Voggite | Na2Zr(PO4)(CO3)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.DO.15 | Peisleyite | Na2Al9[(P,S)O4]8(OH)6 · 28H2O |
| 8.DO.20 | Perhamite | Ca3Al7.7Si3P4O23.5(OH)14.1 · 8H2O |
| 8.DO.20 | Krásnoite | Ca3Al7.7Si3P4O23.5(OH)12.1F2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DO.25 | Saryarkite-(Y) | Ca(Y,Th)Al5(SiO4)2(PO4,SO4)2(OH)7 · 6H2O |
| 8.DO.30 | Micheelsenite | (Ca2Y)Al(PO3OH)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 8.DO.40 | Parwanite | (Na,K)(Mg,Ca)4Al8(PO4)8(CO3)(OH)7 · 30H2O |
| 8.DO.45 | Skorpionite | Ca3Zn2(PO4)2(CO3)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.DO.50 | Jörgkellerite | (Na,◻)3Mn3+3(PO4)2(CO3)(O,OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 8.DO.55 | Juansilvaite | Na5Al3[AsO3(OH)]4[AsO2(OH)2]2(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DO.60 | Vanderheydenite | Zn6(PO4)2(SO4)(OH)4 · 7H2O |
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 Whiterockite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-55225.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Whiterockite
Localities for Whiterockite
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.
Australia (TL) | |
| Miyawaki et al. (2020) +1 other reference |
