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[[File:Mineraly.sk - alunit m.jpg|left|thumb|Alunite from Slovakia]]
[[File:Mineraly.sk - alunit m.jpg|left|thumb|Alunite from Slovakia]]
[[File:Alunite Basic hydrous aluminum potassium sulfate Marysvale Piute County Utah 2324.jpg|left|thumb|Alunite Marysvale, Utah]]
[[File:Alunite Basic hydrous aluminum potassium sulfate Marysvale Piute County Utah 2324.jpg|left|thumb|Alunite Marysvale, Utah]]
Alunite occurs as veins and replacement masses in [[trachyte]], [[rhyolite]], and similar potassium rich [[volcanic rocks]]. It is formed by the action of [[sulfuric acid]] bearing solutions on these rocks during the [[oxidation]] and leaching of metal sulfide deposits. Alunite also is found near volcanic [[fumarole]]s. The white, finely granular masses closely resemble finely granular [[limestone]], [[Dolomite (mineral)|dolomite]], [[anhydrite]], and [[magnesite]] in appearance. The more compact kinds from Hungary are so hard and tough that they have been used for millstones.<ref name="EB1911"/>
Alunite occurs as veins and replacement masses in [[trachyte]], [[rhyolite]], and similar potassium rich [[volcanic rocks]]. It is formed by the action of [[sulfuric acid]] bearing solutions on these rocks during the [[oxidation]] and leaching of metal sulfide deposits. Alunite also is found near volcanic [[fumarole]]s. The white, finely granular masses closely resemble finely granular [[limestone]], [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]], [[anhydrite]], and [[magnesite]] in appearance. The more compact kinds from Hungary are so hard and tough that they have been used for millstones.<ref name="EB1911"/>


Historically extensive deposits were mined in [[Tuscany]] and [[Hungary]], and at [[Bulahdelah, New South Wales]], [[Australia]].<ref name="EB1911"/> It is currently mined at Tolfa, [[Italy]]. In the United States it is found in the San Juan district of [[Colorado]]; [[Goldfield, Nevada]]; the [[ghost town]] of [[Alunite, Utah]] near [[Marysvale, Utah|Marysvale]]; and Red Mountain near [[Patagonia, Arizona]]. The Arizona occurrence lies appropriately above a canyon named ''Alum Gulch''. Alunite is mined as an ore of both potassium and aluminium at Marysvale.<ref name=Hurlbut/> Some of the [[ore]] deposits were located by airborne and satellite [[multispectral imaging]].
Historically extensive deposits were mined in [[Tuscany]] and [[Hungary]], and at [[Bulahdelah, New South Wales]], [[Australia]].<ref name="EB1911"/> It is currently mined at Tolfa, [[Italy]]. In the United States it is found in the San Juan district of [[Colorado]]; [[Goldfield, Nevada]]; the [[ghost town]] of [[Alunite, Utah]] near [[Marysvale, Utah|Marysvale]]; and Red Mountain near [[Patagonia, Arizona]]. The Arizona occurrence lies appropriately above a canyon named ''Alum Gulch''. Alunite is mined as an ore of both potassium and aluminium at Marysvale.<ref name=Hurlbut/> Some of the [[ore]] deposits were located by airborne and satellite [[multispectral imaging]].

Revision as of 22:44, 15 May 2019

For the ghost town, see Alunite, Utah.
Alunite
Alunite from Utah - USGS
General
CategorySulfate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)		KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Strunz classification7.BC.10
Crystal systemTrigonal
Crystal classHexagonal scalenohedral (3m)
Space group: (3 2/m)
Space groupR3m
Unit cella = 6.98, c = 17.32 [Å]; Z = 3
Identification
ColorYellow, red, to reddish brown, colorless if pure; may be white, pale shades of gray
Crystal habitfibrous to columnar, porcelaneous, commonly granular to dense massive
CleavageOn {0001}, perfect
FractureConchoidal
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness3.5 – 4
LusterVitreous, somewhat pearly on {0001} for crystals, earthy if massive
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent to translucent
Specific gravity2.6 – 2.9
Optical propertiesUniaxial (+)
Refractive indexnω = 1.572 nε = 1.592
Birefringenceδ = 0.020
Other characteristicsStrongly pyroelectric
References[1][2][3][4][5]

Alunite is a hydrated aluminium potassium sulfate mineral, formula KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6. It was first observed in the 15th century at Tolfa, near Rome, where it is mined for the manufacture of alum. First called aluminilite by J.C. Delamétherie in 1797, this name was contracted by François Beudant three decades later to alunite.[6]

Alunite crystals morphologically are rhombohedra with interfacial angles of 90° 50', causing them to resemble cubes. Crystal symmetry is trigonal. Minute glistening crystals have also been found loose in cavities in altered rhyolite. Alunite varies in color from white to yellow gray. The hardness is 4 and the specific gravity is between 2.6 and 2.8. It is insoluble in water or weak acids, but soluble in sulfuric acid.[6]

Sodium can substitute for potassium in the mineral, and when the sodium content is high, is called natroalunite.

Alunite is an analog of Jarosite, where aluminium replaces Fe3+. Alunite occurs as a secondary mineral on iron sulfate ores.

Alunite from Slovakia
Alunite Marysvale, Utah

Alunite occurs as veins and replacement masses in trachyte, rhyolite, and similar potassium rich volcanic rocks. It is formed by the action of sulfuric acid bearing solutions on these rocks during the oxidation and leaching of metal sulfide deposits. Alunite also is found near volcanic fumaroles. The white, finely granular masses closely resemble finely granular limestone, dolomite, anhydrite, and magnesite in appearance. The more compact kinds from Hungary are so hard and tough that they have been used for millstones.[6]

Historically extensive deposits were mined in Tuscany and Hungary, and at Bulahdelah, New South Wales, Australia.[6] It is currently mined at Tolfa, Italy. In the United States it is found in the San Juan district of Colorado; Goldfield, Nevada; the ghost town of Alunite, Utah near Marysvale; and Red Mountain near Patagonia, Arizona. The Arizona occurrence lies appropriately above a canyon named Alum Gulch. Alunite is mined as an ore of both potassium and aluminium at Marysvale.[4] Some of the ore deposits were located by airborne and satellite multispectral imaging.

Crystal structure of alunite

Archeology magazine May/June 2019 article stares that in China, in Henan province, an assortment of ceramic objects and jars were found, dating back 2000 years. In one of the jars, a mixture of alunite and potassium nitrate was found. The mixture was then thought to be a "mixture of immortality" mentioned in ancient Chinese texts, obviously, does not appear to have succeeded.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alunite.
  1. ^ http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/alunite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
  2. ^ http://www.mindat.org/min-161.html Mindat.org
  3. ^ http://webmineral.com/data/Alunite.shtml Webmineral data
  4. ^ a b Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Cornelis Klein (1985). Manual of Mineralogy (20th ed.). ISBN 0-471-80580-7.
  5. ^ Mineralienatlas
  6. ^ a b c d  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Spencer, Leonard James (1911). "Alunite". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 773.
  • Hurlbut, Cornelius S. (1966). Dana's Manual of Mineralogy (17th ed.). ISBN 0-471-03288-3.
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