Whewellite

specimen number:
1052464

location:
Burgk, Freital, Sachsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, Saxony, Germany

description:
Several colorless gemmy and glassy twinned crystals of whewellite measuring to 0.5 cm in size on matrix. In good condition. The specimen comes with an antique label as seen at the end of the video and dates to the early 20th century. Quite choice for this unusual species and old locality.

Whewellite is a calcium oxalate mineral that typically forms as colorless to white crystals, often with a vitreous to dull luster, and is most commonly associated with organic processes in natural environments. It can occur in caves, soils, and on rock surfaces where organic material contributes to its formation. At Burgk in Freital, Saxony, Germany, whewellite has been found in association with historic coal mining areas, where it forms as secondary mineralization related to the alteration of organic rich material in the surrounding rocks. The locality lies within the Sachsische Schweiz Osterzgebirge region, an area with a long mining history focused on coal and associated minerals. Specimens from Burgk are typically found as small crystals or encrustations, reflecting the unique conditions under which whewellite forms in this environment.

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