whitlockiet

Whitlockite is a naturally occurring mineral phosphate with the chemical formula Ca9(Mg,Fe)(PO4)6(PO3OH)2. It is a member of the whitlockite group of minerals. The mineral was first described in 1940 and named in honor of George W. Whitlock, a curator at the Harvard Mineralogical Museum. Whitlockite is typically found in various geological settings, including pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, and as a component of meteorites. It often forms as small, crystalline aggregates, sometimes with a powdery or granular texture. The color of whitlockite can vary but is commonly white, gray, or pale yellow. It is relatively soft and has a Mohs hardness of around 5. While not a commercially significant mineral, whitlockite is of interest to mineralogists for its occurrence and crystallographic properties. It has also been identified in biological contexts, specifically in calcified tissues and dental enamel, where it can be a component of biological apatite. The presence of whitlockite in these biological samples can sometimes be indicative of certain pathological conditions or environmental influences.