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Natural Calcium Oxalate with Heavy Carbon

Nature volume 223, page 396 (1969)Cite this article

Abstract

WHEWELLITE (CaC2O4, xH20) is a rare mineral, two very similar occurrences of which have been described in septarian nodules in argillaceous rocks1,2. The formation of whewellite seems to be closely related to the organic material embedded in the sediments. Whewellite is metastable in almost all natural environments2 and may form as a result of the metastable precipitation of oxalates released during the decomposition of organic matter.

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References

  1. Lippmann, F., Geol. Rundschau, 43, 475 (1955).

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  2. Leavens, P. B., Amer. Mineral., 53, 455 (1968).

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  3. Hoefs, J., and Schidlowski, M., Science, 155 1096 (1967).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zentrallaboratorium für Geochemie der Isotope, Güttingen, Germany

    J. HOEFS

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  1. J. HOEFS
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HOEFS, J. Natural Calcium Oxalate with Heavy Carbon. Nature 223, 396 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/223396a0

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