Calclacite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Calclacite
General
CategoryMineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca(CH3COO)Cl·5H2O
IMA symbolCalc[1]
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Identification
ColorWhite
Mohs scale hardness1.5
LusterSilky
DiaphaneityTranslucent
Specific gravity1.5
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα = 1.468 nβ = 1.484 nγ = 1.515
Birefringenceδ = 0.047
2V angleMeasured: 80°, Calculated: 74°
DispersionRelatively feeble
References[2]

Calclacite is a mineral and an organic compound. Its name references the components, which are calcium ions (Ca2+), chloride (Cl) and acetate CH3COO.

Characteristics[edit]

Calclacite is an organic compound with chemical formula Ca(CH3COO)Cl·5H2O. It forms crystals in the monoclinic system, with silky hairlike efflorescences up to 4 cm long.

According to the Nickel-Strunz classification, calclacite is an organic acid salt and occurs with formicaite (calcium formate), acetamide, dashkovaite (magnesium acetate), paceite (calcium copper acetate) and hoganite (copper acetate).[2] It is white and its hardness on the Mohs scale is 1.5.

Formation[edit]

Calclacite is formed on samples of rocks, fossils, and on fragments of ceramics, by the action of acetic acid produced from the oak of the storage cabinets.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b c Mindat