Whewellite

Whewellite
240px A white Whewellite crystal from Schlema, Germany
General
Category	Oxalates
Formula (repeating unit)	CaC2O4·H2O
Strunz classification	10.AB.45
Identification
References

Whewellite is a mineral, hydrated calcium oxalate, formula CaC₂O₄·H₂O. Because of its organic content it is thought to have an indirect biological origin and this is supported by it being found in coal and sedimentary nodules. However, it has also been found in hydrothermal deposits where a biological source appears improbable. For this reason it can be classed as true mineral.

Whewellite, or at least crystalline calcium oxalate, does also arise from biological sources. Small crystals or flakes of it are sometimes found on the surfaces of some cacti, and kidney stones frequently have the same composition.

Whewellite was named after William Whewell (1794–1866), an English polymath, naturalist and scientist, professor of moral philosophy at Cambridge and inventor of the system of crystallographic indexing.

Whewellite heat decomposition

File:Whewellite tga.jpg

Whewellite (calcium oxalate monohydrate) heat decomposition mass curve

Whewellite is used as a thermogravimetric analysis standard due to its well known decomposition temperatures and products.

See also

List of minerals named after people

List of minerals (complete)