Moolooite, a naturally occurring hydrated copper oxalate from Western Australia

Abstract

ABSTRACT, Moolooite, a naturally occurring hydrated copper oxalate has been identified in a sulphide-bearing quartz outcrop 12 km east of Mooloo Downs station homestead (25 ~ 01' 30" S., 116 ~ 06' 30" E.), Western Australia. It has apparently formed by the interaction of solutions derived from bird guano and weathering copper sulphides. Partial microchemical analysis indicates a composition corresponding to CuC204.0.44H20. The infra-red spectrum is similar to that of the artificial compound with diagnostic absorption bands at 3490, 2975, 2935, 1980, 1940, 1660, 1365,1320, 830, 510, 390, and 315 on-1. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns indicate a disordered structure with orthorhombic symmetry; a 5.35, b 5.63, e 2.56A, Z = 1. The strongest lines of the powder pattern are [dl~, 1, hkl]:

The crystal structure of paramagnetic copper(ii) oxalate (CuC2O4): formation and thermal decomposition of randomly stacked anisotropic nano-sized crystallites

“…Moolooite is a naturally occurring hydrated copper oxalate from Mooloo Downs in Western Australia apparently formed by interaction of solutions derived from bird guano (the biological source) and weathering copper sulphides. 3 It has also been found together with Whewellite on copper tolerant lichens (the biological source) growing on copper bearing rocks. 4 The crystal structures of the first two mentioned minerals are well established from single crystal X-ray analysis.…”

“…The oxalate minerals Whewellite (CaC 2 O 4 ·H 2 O 1 ), Natroxalate (Na 2 C 2 O 4 2 ), and Moolooite 3,4 are such examples. Moolooite is a naturally occurring hydrated copper oxalate from Mooloo Downs in Western Australia apparently formed by interaction of solutions derived from bird guano (the biological source) and weathering copper sulphides.…”

“…4 The crystal structures of the first two mentioned minerals are well established from single crystal X-ray analysis. No single crystal structure analysis has been made on natural Moolooite, but a microchemical analysis indicates the composition CuC 2 O 4 · 0.44H 2 O, 3 and a disordered structure with orthorhombic symmetry and a = 5.35, b = 5.63, c = 2.56 Å and Z = 1 were suggested from powder X-ray patterns. 3 The X-ray powder patterns of natural Moolooite 4 match the reference pattern of a synthetic copper oxalate hydrate (JCPDS card no. )…”

Raman spectroscopy of natural oxalates at 298 and 77 K

“…The magnesium based oxalate is known as glushinskite 6,27 . The copper oxalate is known as moolooite 28,29 and the ferrous oxalate as humboldtine 4,30 . These three oxalates are also the product of lichen growth.…”

El arte rupestre esquemático del Arroyo Barbaón (Parque Nacional de Monfragüe, Cáceres): contextualización arqueológica y caracterización de pigmentos

“…22). Algunos productos de alteración se encuentran también presentes, posiblemente oxalatos y fosfatos derivados de la acción biológica de los líquenes y de la mineralización del guano de las aves (Frost, 2004;Clarke y Williams, 1986).…”