Calclacite

Summary

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

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]

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