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
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemistry of Ammonioalunite
Mindat Formula:
(NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6
Element Weights:
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:
Synonyms of Ammonioalunite
Other Language Names for Ammonioalunite
Dutch:Ammonioaluniet
French:Ammonioalunite
German:Ammonioalunit
Norwegian:Ammonioalunitt
Spanish:Ammonioalunita
Relationship of Ammonioalunite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Alunite 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(32/m) : R3m |
| Beaverite-(Zn) | Pb(Fe3+2Zn)(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Dorallcharite | TlFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Huangite | Ca0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Hydroniumjarosite | (H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Jarosite | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Natroalunite | NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
| 'Natroalunite-2c' | (Na,Ca0.5,K)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
| Osarizawaite | Pb(Al2Cu2+)(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Plumbojarosite | Pb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Schlossmacherite | (H3O)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Walthierite | Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Ammonioalunite associated with Ammoniojarosite | (NH4)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Godovikovite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 |
| 1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Kremersite | (NH4,K)2[Fe3+Cl5(H2O)] |
| 1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Pyracmonite | (NH4)3Fe(SO4)3 |
| 1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Tschermigite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.BC. | Viskontite | Pb5Cu2(SO4)3(SeO3)(OH)6 |
| 7.BC. | Zincochenite | Pb4Zn(OH)6(SO4)2 |
| 7.BC. | D'Ansite-(Mn) | Na21Mn2+(SO4)10Cl3 |
| 7.BC. | D'Ansite-(Fe) | Na21Fe2+(SO4)10Cl3 |
| 7.BC. | Acmonidesite | (NH4,K,Pb)8NaFe2+4(SO4)5Cl8 |
| 7.BC. | Adranosite | (NH4)4NaAl2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2 |
| 7.BC. | Chromviskontite | Pb5Cu2(CrO4)3(SeO3)(OH)6 |
| 7.BC. | Backite | Pb2AlTeO6Cl |
| 7.BC. | Adranosite-(Fe) | (NH4)4NaFe3+2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2 |
| 7.BC. | Agaite | Pb3CuTeO5(OH)2(CO3) |
| 7.BC. | Wildcatite | CaFe3+Te6+O5(OH) |
| 7.BC. | Hagstromite | Pb8Cu2+(Te6+O6)2(CO3)Cl4 |
| 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 | Jarosite | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Dorallcharite | TlFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Argentojarosite | AgFe3+3(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 | Beaverite-(Cu) | Pb(Fe3+2Cu)(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Beaverite-(Zn) | Pb(Fe3+2Zn)(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Walthierite | Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Huangite | Ca0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | 'Natroalunite-2c' | (Na,Ca0.5,K)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Plumbojarosite | Pb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Karlseifertite | Pb(Ga2Ge)(AsO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Hydroniumjarosite | (H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Ammoniojarosite | (NH4)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Osarizawaite | Pb(Al2Cu2+)(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Schlossmacherite | (H3O)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.15 | Ye'elimite | Ca4Al6(SO4)O12 |
| 7.BC.20 | Nabokoite | KCu7(SO4)5(Te4+O3)OCl |
| 7.BC.20 | Puninite | Na2Cu3O(SO4)3 |
| 7.BC.20 | Atlasovite | K(BiO)Cu6Fe3+(SO4)5O3Cl |
| 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 | Alumoklyuchevskite | K3Cu3(Al,Fe3+)(SO4)4O2 |
| 7.BC.45 | Belousovite | KZn(SO4)Cl |
| 7.BC.45 | Klyuchevskite | K3Cu3(Fe3+,Al)(SO4)4O2 |
| 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 | Falgarite | K4(VO)3(SO4)5 |
| 7.BC.55 | Wherryite | Pb7Cu2(SO4)4(SiO4)2(OH)2 |
| 7.BC.57 | Krasheninnikovite | KNa2CaMg(SO4)3F |
| 7.BC.60 | Wulffite | K3NaCu4O2(SO4)4 |
| 7.BC.60 | Parawulffite | K5Na3Cu8O4(SO4)8 |
| 7.BC.60 | Mammothite | Pb6Cu4AlSb5+O2(OH)16Cl4(SO4)2 |
| 7.BC.62 | Shuvalovite | K2(Ca2Na)(SO4)3F |
| 7.BC.65 | Saccoite | Ca2Mn3+2F(OH)8 · 0.5(SO4) |
| 7.BC.65 | Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 7.BC.65 | Therasiaite | (NH4)3KNa2Fe2+Fe3+(SO4)3Cl5 |
| 7.BC.65 | Franksousaite | PbCu(Se6+O4)(OH)2 |
| 7.BC.65 | Munakataite | Pb2Cu2(Se4+O3)(SO4)(OH)4 |
| 7.BC.65 | Schmiederite | Pb2Cu2(Se6+O4)(Se4+O3)(OH)4 |
| 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
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-203.html
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References for Ammonioalunite
Reference List:
Altaner, Stephen P., Fitzpatrick, Joan J., , M. Dennis Krohn, Bethke, Philip M., Hayba, Daniel O., Goss, James A., Brown, Zoe Ann (1988) Ammonium in alunites. American Mineralogist, 73 (1-2) 145-152
Localities for Ammonioalunite
Showing 15 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| Žáček et al. (1995) |
| Excalibur Mineral Corp. - Mineral News | |
| Zacek et al. (2019) | |
| Jirásek (2001) |
Germany | |
| Witzke et al. (2015) |
| Witzke et al. (1998) |
Hungary | |
| Szabó et al. (2015) |
Lebanon | |
| Kruszewski (2019) |
Poland | |
| Ciesielczuk et al. (2014) |
| Parafiniuk et al. (2009) |
| Kruszewski et al. (2020) |
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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Pécs-Vasas, Pécs District, Baranya County, Hungary