Ammonioalunite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Ammonioalunite
Formula:
(NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6
Colour:
Grayish white
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.4
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
The name is derived from "alunite" since it is a member of the Alunite Sub-group. The "Ammonio" prefix designates that it is the (NH4)-dominant member of the sub-group.
This page provides mineralogical data about Ammonioalunite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
203
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:203:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
90e94022-ae90-450f-8166-d8ea1dd59c98
IMA Classification of Ammonioalunite
Approved
Classification of Ammonioalunite
7.BC.10
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
30.2.4.6
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
25.1.10
25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium
25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Aalu | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Ammonioalunite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Grayish white
Comment:
colorless in thin section.
Streak:
white
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
perfect on {0001}(by analogy with the alunite group).
perfect on {0001}(by analogy with the alunite group).
Density:
2.4 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.58 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Ammonioalunite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.590(5) nε = 1.602(5)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemistry of Ammonioalunite
Mindat Formula:
(NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6
Crystallography of Ammonioalunite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.01 Å, c = 17.88 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.551
Unit Cell V:
760.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
As rhombohedral crystals, to 20 μm, forming granular masses.
Comment:
Point Group: 3 2/m or 3m; Space Group: R3m or R3m. a
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.023 Å | (100) |
5.04 Å | (93) |
2.996 Å | (50) |
1.917 Å | (32) |
2.353 Å | (31) |
1.753 Å | (21) |
3.514 Å | (19) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
14 : Hot springs, geysers, and other subaerial geothermal minerals | |
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44) | <0.54 |
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Type Occurrence of Ammonioalunite
General Appearance of Type Material:
As rhombohedral crystals, to 20 µm, forming granular masses.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 145596.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Formed in hot springs under very acid conditions, rich in ammonium and sulfate, poor in potassium, below 100 C.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Altaner, S.P., Fitzpatrick, J.J., Krohn, M.D., Bethke, P.M., Hayba, D.O., Goss, J.A., Brown, Z.A. (1988) Ammonium in alunites. American Mineralogist: 73: 145-152.
Synonyms of Ammonioalunite
Other Language Names for Ammonioalunite
German:Ammonioalunit
Spanish:Ammonioalunita
Relationship of Ammonioalunite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
Ammoniojarosite | (NH4)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
Argentojarosite | AgFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
Beaverite-(Cu) | Pb(Fe3+2Cu)(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Beaverite-(Zn) | Pb(Fe3+2Zn)(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Dorallcharite | TlFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Huangite | Ca0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Hydroniumjarosite | (H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Jarosite | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Natroalunite | NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
Natroalunite-2c | (Na,Ca0.5,K)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
Osarizawaite | Pb(Al2Cu2+)(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Plumbojarosite | Pb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Schlossmacherite | (H3O)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Walthierite | Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
2 photos of Ammonioalunite associated with Ammoniojarosite | (NH4)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Pyracmonite | (NH4)3Fe(SO4)3 |
1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Kremersite | (NH4,K)2[Fe3+Cl5(H2O)] |
1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Tschermigite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
7.BC. | Adranosite-(Fe) | (NH4)4NaFe3+2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2 |
7.BC. | Adranosite | (NH4)4NaAl2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2 |
7.BC. | D'Ansite-(Mn) | Na21Mn2+(SO4)10Cl3 |
7.BC. | Agaite | Pb3CuTeO5(OH)2(CO3) |
7.BC. | D'Ansite-(Fe) | Na21Fe2+(SO4)10Cl3 |
7.BC. | Acmonidesite | (NH4,K,Pb)8NaFe2+4(SO4)5Cl8 |
7.BC. | Backite | Pb2AlTeO6Cl |
7.BC. | Hagstromite | Pb8Cu2+(Te6+O6)2(CO3)Cl4 |
7.BC. | Wildcatite | CaFe3+Te6+O5(OH) |
7.BC. | Franksousaite | PbCu(Se6+O4)(OH)2 |
7.BC. | Zincochenite | Pb4Zn(OH)6(SO4)2 |
7.BC. | Viskontite | Pb5Cu2(SO4)3(SeO3)(OH)6 |
7.BC.05 | D'Ansite | Na21Mg(SO4)10Cl3 |
7.BC.07 | Apatelite | Fe3(SO4)2(OH)5 · 0.5H2O |
7.BC.07 | Unnamed (Ba-Fe Vanadate) | Ba, Fe, V, O, H |
7.BC.10 | Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Ammoniojarosite | (NH4)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Argentojarosite | AgFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Beaverite-(Cu) | Pb(Fe3+2Cu)(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Dorallcharite | TlFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Huangite | Ca0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Hydroniumjarosite | (H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Jarosite | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Natroalunite-2c | (Na,Ca0.5,K)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Natroalunite | NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Osarizawaite | Pb(Al2Cu2+)(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Plumbojarosite | Pb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Schlossmacherite | (H3O)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Walthierite | Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.10 | Beaverite-(Zn) | Pb(Fe3+2Zn)(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.15 | Ye'elimite | Ca4Al6(SO4)O12 |
7.BC.20 | Atlasovite | K(BiO)Cu6Fe3+(SO4)5O3Cl |
7.BC.20 | Nabokoite | KCu7(SO4)5(Te4+O3)OCl |
7.BC.20 | Puninite | Na2Cu3O(SO4)3 |
7.BC.25 | Chlorothionite | K2Cu(SO4)Cl2 |
7.BC.30 | Euchlorine | KNaCu3(SO4)3O |
7.BC.30 | Fedotovite | K2Cu3(SO4)3O |
7.BC.35 | Kamchatkite | KCu3(SO4)2OCl |
7.BC.40 | Piypite | K4Cu4O2(SO4)4 · (Na,Cu)Cl |
7.BC.45 | Klyuchevskite | K3Cu3(Fe3+,Al)(SO4)4O2 |
7.BC.45 | Alumoklyuchevskite | K3Cu3(Al,Fe3+)(SO4)4O2 |
7.BC.45 | Belousovite | KZn(SO4)Cl |
7.BC.47 | Müllerite | Pb2Fe3+(Te6+O6)Cl |
7.BC.50 | Caledonite | Pb5Cu2(SO4)3(CO3)(OH)6 |
7.BC.50 | Elasmochloite | Na3Cu6BiO4(SO4)5 |
7.BC.52 | Eleomelanite | (K2Pb)Cu4O2(SO4)4 |
7.BC.55 | Wherryite | Pb7Cu2(SO4)4(SiO4)2(OH)2 |
7.BC.55 | Falgarite | K4(VO)3(SO4)5 |
7.BC.57 | Krasheninnikovite | KNa2CaMg(SO4)3F |
7.BC.60 | Mammothite | Pb6Cu4AlSb5+O2(OH)16Cl4(SO4)2 |
7.BC.60 | Wulffite | K3NaCu4O2(SO4)4 |
7.BC.60 | Parawulffite | K5Na3Cu8O4(SO4)8 |
7.BC.62 | Shuvalovite | K2(Ca2Na)(SO4)3F |
7.BC.65 | Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
7.BC.65 | Schmiederite | Pb2Cu2(Se6+O4)(Se4+O3)(OH)4 |
7.BC.65 | Munakataite | Pb2Cu2(Se4+O3)(SO4)(OH)4 |
7.BC.65 | Therasiaite | (NH4)3KNa2Fe2+Fe3+(SO4)3Cl5 |
7.BC.65 | Saccoite | Ca2Mn3+2F(OH)8 · 0.5(SO4) |
7.BC.70 | Chenite | Pb4Cu(SO4)2(OH)6 |
7.BC.75 | Krivovichevite | Pb3Al(OH)6(SO4)(OH) |
7.BC.80 | Anhydrokainite | KMg(SO4)Cl |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Ammonioalunite
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https://www.mindat.org/min-203.html
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References for Ammonioalunite
Localities for Ammonioalunite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| Zacek et al. (1995) |
Tony Nikischer | |
Zacek et al. (2019) | |
| Jirásek (2001) |
Germany | |
| Witzke et al. (2015) |
| T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998 (7/8) |
Hungary | |
| 2015 May 16-19 +2 other references |
Lebanon | |
| Kruszewski et al. (South Lebanon) |
Poland | |
| Ciesielczuk et al. (2014) |
| Parafiniuk et al. (2009) |
| Kruszewski et al. (2019) |
USA | |
| Journal of Volcanology & Geothermal ... |
| Altaner et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
| Jour.Volcanology & Geothermal Res. ... +1 other reference |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
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Kladno mine, Libušin, Kladno District, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic