Log In
Weloganite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Weloganite
Sir William Edmond Logan
Formula:
Na2Sr3Zr(CO3)6 · 3H2O
Colour:
Light yellow, amber-yellow, white
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
3.20 - 3.22
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named after Sir William Edmond Logan (20 April 1798, Montreal, Québec, Canada - 22 June 1875, Manordeifi, Pembrokeshire, Wales), founder and first director of the Geological Survey of Canada (1842-1870).
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4266
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4266:2
IMA Classification of Weloganite
Classification of Weloganite
5.CC.05
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
C : With rare earth elements (REE)
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
C : With rare earth elements (REE)
15.3.4.4
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
3 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p = 1:1
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
3 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p = 1:1
11.9.7
11 : Carbonates
9 : Carbonates of Pb, Zr and Th
11 : Carbonates
9 : Carbonates of Pb, Zr and Th
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wlg | 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 Weloganite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Light yellow, amber-yellow, white
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
on pseudo{0001}
on pseudo{0001}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Comment:
Triboluminescent with blue light (http://www.mindat.org/mesg-6-204391.html)
Density:
3.20 - 3.22 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.208 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Weloganite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.558 nβ = 1.646 nγ = 1.64
2V:
Measured: 15°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.082
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:
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.
Dispersion:
weak
Chemistry of Weloganite
Mindat Formula:
Na2Sr3Zr(CO3)6 · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Weloganite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pedial
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.966 Å, b = 8.98 Å, c = 6.73 Å
α = 102.72°, β = 116.65°, γ = 60.06°
α = 102.72°, β = 116.65°, γ = 60.06°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.998 : 1 : 0.749
Unit Cell V:
419.66 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Roughly hexagonal, tapering crystals to 10 cm, massive.
Twinning:
About [103] repeated at 120 degrees.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005116 | Weloganite | Grice J D, Perrault G (1975) The crystal structure of triclinic weloganite The Canadian Mineralogist 13 209-216 |  | 1975 | St. Michel, Montreal Island, Quebec, Canada | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.35 Å | (90) |
| 6.03 Å | (60) |
| 2.809 Å | (100) |
| 2.590 Å | (70) |
| 2.227 Å | (70) |
| 2.009 Å | (70) |
| 1.961 Å | (60) |
Comments:
Francon quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Data from the type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Weloganite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Poorly developed crystals elongate on [001]. Roughly hexagonal in outline. The prism faces are heavily striated and grooved parallel to the base due to pronounced oscillatory growth. Also massive.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, numbers 17257, 61337.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Alkalic sills.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Weloganite
Other Language Names for Weloganite
Relationship of Weloganite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Mckelveyite Group:
| Alicewilsonite-(YCe) | Na2Sr2YCe(CO3)6 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Alicewilsonite-(YLa) | Na2Sr2YLa(CO3)6 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Bainbridgeite-(NdCe) | Na2Ba2NdCe(CO3)6 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Bainbridgeite-(YCe) | Na2Ba2YCe(CO3)6 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Donnayite-(Y) | NaCaSr3Y(CO3)6 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Ewaldite | Ba(Na,Ca,Y,Ce,K)(CO3)2 · 2.6H2O | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
| Mckelveyite-(Nd) | NaCaBa3Nd(CO3)6 · 3H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
| Mckelveyite-(Y) | NaCaBa3Y(CO3)6 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 81 photos of Weloganite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 43 photos of Weloganite associated with Dresserite | BaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| 38 photos of Weloganite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 19 photos of Weloganite associated with Dawsonite | NaAlCO3(OH)2 |
| 14 photos of Weloganite associated with Strontianite | SrCO3 |
| 10 photos of Weloganite associated with Hydrodresserite | BaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · 3H2O |
| 9 photos of Weloganite associated with Franconite | Na(Nb2O5)(OH) · 3H2O |
| 8 photos of Weloganite associated with Nannoniite | Al2(OH)5F |
| 6 photos of Weloganite associated with Marcasite | FeS2 |
| 5 photos of Weloganite associated with Elpidite | Na2ZrSi6O15 · 3H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.CC. | Bainbridgeite-(NdCe) | Na2Ba2NdCe(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC. | Yuchuanite-(Y) | Y2(CO3)3 · H2O |
| 5.CC. | Alicewilsonite-(YCe) | Na2Sr2YCe(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC.05 | Donnayite-(Y) | NaCaSr3Y(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC.05 | Alicewilsonite-(YLa) | Na2Sr2YLa(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC.05 | Mckelveyite-(Nd) | NaCaBa3Nd(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC.05 | Mckelveyite-(Y) | NaCaBa3Y(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC.05 | Ewaldite | Ba(Na,Ca,Y,Ce,K)(CO3)2 · 2.6H2O |
| 5.CC.05 | 'UM1992-05-CO:CaCeLaNaSr' | (Sr,Na,Y,REE,Ca,Ba)2(CO3)2 · H2O |
| 5.CC.05 | Mckelveyite Group | A3B3(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC.05 | Bainbridgeite-(YCe) | Na2Ba2YCe(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC.05 | 'Unnamed (MSH UK-37A)' | Sr3NaCaY(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC.10 | Tengerite-(Y) | Y2(CO3)3 · 2-3H2O |
| 5.CC.15 | Lokkaite-(Y) | Ca(Y,Gd,Nd,Dy)4(CO3)7 · 9H2O |
| 5.CC.15 | Kimuraite-(Y) | Ca(Y,Nd)2(CO3)4 · 6H2O |
| 5.CC.15 | Hizenite-(Y) | Ca2Y6(CO3)11 · 14H2O |
| 5.CC.20 | Shomiokite-(Y) | Na3Y[CO3]3 · 3H2O |
| 5.CC.25 | Lanthanite-(Ce) | Ce2(CO3)3 · 8H2O |
| 5.CC.25 | Lanthanite-(La) | La2(CO3)3 · 8H2O |
| 5.CC.25 | Lanthanite-(Nd) | Nd2(CO3)3 · 8H2O |
| 5.CC.25 | Calkinsite-(Ce) | (Ce,La)2(CO3)3 · 4H2O |
| 5.CC.30 | Adamsite-(Y) | NaY[CO3]2 · 6H2O |
| 5.CC.35 | Decrespignyite-(Y) | Cu(Y,REE)4(CO3)4(OH)5Cl · 2H2O |
| 5.CC.40 | Galgenbergite-(Ce) | Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O |
| 5.CC.45 | Lecoqite-(Y) | Na3Y(CO3)3 · 6H2O |
Other Information
Electrical:
Pyroelectric. Triboluminescent with blue light (http://www.mindat.org/mesg-6-204391.html)
Thermal Behaviour:
Pyroelectric.
Notes:
Effervesces violently in cold dilute hydrochloric acid.
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 Weloganite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4266.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Weloganite
Reference List:
Sabina, Ann P., Jambor, John L., Plant, A. G. (1968) Weloganite, a new strontium zirconium carbonate from Montreal Island, Canada. The Canadian Mineralogist, 9 (4) 468-477
Chen, T. T., Chao, G. Y. (1975) X-ray crystallography of weloganite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 13 (1) 22-26
Grice, J. D., Perrault, G. (1975) The crystal structure of triclinic weloganite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 13 (3) 209-216
Frost, Ray L., Xi, Yunfei, Scholz, Ricardo, Belotti, Fernanda Maria, Filho, Mauro Cândido (2013) Infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterization of the carbonate mineral weloganite – Sr3Na2Zr(CO3)6·3H2O and in comparison with selected carbonates. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1039. 101-106 doi:10.1016/j.molstruc.2013.02.005
Localities for Weloganite
Showing 6 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.
Canada | |
| Arden et al. (1999) |
| Horváth et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
| confirmed by XRD July 2017. +1 other reference |
| Sabina et al. (1968) +4 other references |
| Canadian Museum of Nature collection ... +1 other reference |
South Africa | |
| R. Liferovich -L. Horváth p.c. 2004 |
Quick NavTopAbout WeloganiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Francon quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada