Введение
Фосфатный минерал
Whitlockite is a mineral, an unusual form of calcium phosphate. Its formula is Ca9(MgFe)(PO4)6PO3OH. and is currently being studied for use in the fabrication of human prosthetics. The phosphate group is part of the largest class of minerals and consists of 763 known species. Of these, the most common phosphate mineral is apatite, which is frequently found as an accessory mineral in many types of rock, including igneous and metamorphic rocks. Apatite has also been found in hydrothermal veins and cavities or even Alpine type veins associated with quartz. The most important varieties of apatite are represented by fluorapatite, hydroxyapatite, chlorapatite and carbonate apatite
Because the composition of apatite varies, the term 'apatite' is often used to describe a variety of different phosphate minerals. Apatite are also commonly found in biologic systems, where they are a frequent component of structures such as bone. Whitlockite is a rare phosphate mineral often represented as a type of apatite. However, it differs considerably from most other phosphate minerals, including apatite, in its chemical composition and the molar proportions of these components. The first serious studies of the mineral whitlockite were launched in 1952 on terrestrial specimens from the Palermo pegmatite quarry near North Groton, New Hampshire. These specimens were initially used to describe the composition and structure of the mineral. A decade later, the Apollo landing missions returned an impressive array of lunar rocks as well as other kinds of meteoric material. This unique resource led to an unprecedented barrage of geologic studies designed to characterize and define the composition and structure of minerals in these specimens. Throughout all studies on whitlockite, it has been found that the two most common phosphate minerals occurring in lunar rocks were apatite and whitlockite, and that they usually occur together. In the biologic literature, whitlockite and apatite are use interchangeably. Whitlockite is also associated so frequently with apatite in its biologic occurrences that it is frequently presumed to be apatite. However, subsequent investigation failed to find any monofluorophosphate in samples of bobdownsite, the mineral was discredited as a distinct species, and recommendations were made to tighten the criteria for identifying minerals as containing monofluorophosphate.
Витлокит – это минерал, необычная форма фосфата кальция. Его формула Ca9(MgFe)(PO4)6PO3OH. В настоящее время он изучается для использования в изготовлении человеческих протезов. Фосфатная группа является частью самого большого класса минералов и состоит из 763 известных видов. Наиболее распространенным фосфатным минералом из них является апатит, который часто встречается в качестве акцессорного минерала во многих типах пород, включая магматические и метаморфические породы. Апатит также обнаружен в гидротермальных жилах и полостях, или даже в альпийских жилах, связанных с кварцем. Наиболее важные разновидности апатита представлены флюорапатитом, гидроксиапатитом, хлорапатитом и карбонатапатитом.
Whitlockite is a mineral, an unusual form of calcium phosphate. Its formula is Ca9(MgFe)(PO4)6PO3OH. and is currently being studied for use in the fabrication of human prosthetics. The phosphate group is part of the largest class of minerals and consists of 763 known species. Of these, the most common phosphate mineral is apatite, which is frequently found as an accessory mineral in many types of rock, including igneous and metamorphic rocks. Apatite has also been found in hydrothermal veins and cavities or even Alpine type veins associated with quartz. The most important varieties of apatite are represented by fluorapatite, hydroxyapatite, chlorapatite and carbonate apatite
Because the composition of apatite varies, the term 'apatite' is often used to describe a variety of different phosphate minerals. Apatite are also commonly found in biologic systems, where they are a frequent component of structures such as bone. Whitlockite is a rare phosphate mineral often represented as a type of apatite. However, it differs considerably from most other phosphate minerals, including apatite, in its chemical composition and the molar proportions of these components. The first serious studies of the mineral whitlockite were launched in 1952 on terrestrial specimens from the Palermo pegmatite quarry near North Groton, New Hampshire. These specimens were initially used to describe the composition and structure of the mineral. A decade later, the Apollo landing missions returned an impressive array of lunar rocks as well as other kinds of meteoric material. This unique resource led to an unprecedented barrage of geologic studies designed to characterize and define the composition and structure of minerals in these specimens. Throughout all studies on whitlockite, it has been found that the two most common phosphate minerals occurring in lunar rocks were apatite and whitlockite, and that they usually occur together. In the biologic literature, whitlockite and apatite are use interchangeably. Whitlockite is also associated so frequently with apatite in its biologic occurrences that it is frequently presumed to be apatite. However, subsequent investigation failed to find any monofluorophosphate in samples of bobdownsite, the mineral was discredited as a distinct species, and recommendations were made to tighten the criteria for identifying minerals as containing monofluorophosphate.
Поскольку состав апатита варьируется, термин «апатит» часто используется для описания различных фосфатных минералов. Апатиты также часто встречаются в биологических системах, где они являются частым компонентом таких структур, как кости. Витлокит – редкий фосфатный минерал, часто рассматриваемый как разновидность апатита. Однако он значительно отличается от большинства других фосфатных минералов, включая апатит, по своему химическому составу и молярным пропорциям компонентов. Первые серьезные исследования минерала витлокит были начаты в 1952 году на наземных образцах из карьера Палермо-пегматита недалеко от Северного Гротона, штат Нью-Гемпшир. Эти образцы первоначально использовались для описания состава и структуры минерала. Десять лет спустя миссии «Аполлон» доставили внушительное количество лунных пород, а также другие виды метеоритных материалов. Этот уникальный ресурс привел к беспрецедентному потоку геологических исследований, направленных на характеристику и определение состава и структуры минералов в этих образцах. Во всех исследованиях витлокита было установлено, что двумя наиболее распространенными фосфатными минералами, встречающимися в лунных породах, являются апатит и витлокит, и они обычно встречаются вместе. В биологической литературе витлокит и апатит часто используются как взаимозаменяемые понятия. Витлокит также настолько часто ассоциируется с апатитом в биологических образцах, что его часто принимают за апатит. Однако последующие исследования не выявили монофторфосфата в образцах бобдаунсита, минерал был дискредитирован как самостоятельный вид, и были даны рекомендации по ужесточению критериев для идентификации минералов, содержащих монофторфосфат.
Whitlockite is a mineral, an unusual form of calcium phosphate. Its formula is Ca9(MgFe)(PO4)6PO3OH. and is currently being studied for use in the fabrication of human prosthetics. The phosphate group is part of the largest class of minerals and consists of 763 known species. Of these, the most common phosphate mineral is apatite, which is frequently found as an accessory mineral in many types of rock, including igneous and metamorphic rocks. Apatite has also been found in hydrothermal veins and cavities or even Alpine type veins associated with quartz. The most important varieties of apatite are represented by fluorapatite, hydroxyapatite, chlorapatite and carbonate apatite
Because the composition of apatite varies, the term 'apatite' is often used to describe a variety of different phosphate minerals. Apatite are also commonly found in biologic systems, where they are a frequent component of structures such as bone. Whitlockite is a rare phosphate mineral often represented as a type of apatite. However, it differs considerably from most other phosphate minerals, including apatite, in its chemical composition and the molar proportions of these components. The first serious studies of the mineral whitlockite were launched in 1952 on terrestrial specimens from the Palermo pegmatite quarry near North Groton, New Hampshire. These specimens were initially used to describe the composition and structure of the mineral. A decade later, the Apollo landing missions returned an impressive array of lunar rocks as well as other kinds of meteoric material. This unique resource led to an unprecedented barrage of geologic studies designed to characterize and define the composition and structure of minerals in these specimens. Throughout all studies on whitlockite, it has been found that the two most common phosphate minerals occurring in lunar rocks were apatite and whitlockite, and that they usually occur together. In the biologic literature, whitlockite and apatite are use interchangeably. Whitlockite is also associated so frequently with apatite in its biologic occurrences that it is frequently presumed to be apatite. However, subsequent investigation failed to find any monofluorophosphate in samples of bobdownsite, the mineral was discredited as a distinct species, and recommendations were made to tighten the criteria for identifying minerals as containing monofluorophosphate.
Геологические явления
Уитлокит имеет два важных неорганических проявления, имеющих геологическое значение. Первое, известное как наземный уитлокит, встречается как вторичный минерал в гранитных пегматитах, например, в округе Кастер, Южная Дакота, в виде игольчатых кристаллов, ассоциированных с кварцем на шахте Тип Топ, и в шахте Палермо в Северном Гротоне, Нью-Гемпшир. Второе проявление – внеземной уитлокит, который теперь известен как мерриллит. Внеземной уитлокит (мерриллит) был обнаружен в образцах лунного грунта, а также в марсианских и других типах метеоритов, где он является одним из наиболее распространенных фосфатных минералов. Изучение мерриллита как акцессорного минерала позволило получить ценные сведения, которые помогли раскрыть петрогенез внеземных пород.
Биологические явления
Уитлокит также встречается в биологических системах и связан с рядом заболеваний человека. Уитлокит можно обнаружить во многих областях человеческого тела, но он особенно концентрируется в кальцинированных тканях, таких как зародышевая и зрелая кость. Наивысшие концентрации уитлокита наблюдаются в зоне нагрузки головки бедренной кости.