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Ammonioalunite

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Kladno Mine (Nejedlý I Mine; Zdeněk Nejedlý Mine; Schoeller Mine; Schöller Mine), Libušin, Kladno, Central Bohemia Region, Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic
© 2007, JGW




Formula:
(NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
System:TrigonalColour:Grayish white
Hardness:2 - 3
Member of:Alunite Subgroup
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.


Alunite Subgroup.

Classification of Ammonioalunite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/B.11-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID: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
Dana 8th edition ID:30.2.4.6

30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.1.10

25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium
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Type Occurrence of Ammonioalunite

Type Locality:The Geysers, West Mayacmas District, Mayacmas Mts (Mayacamas Mts), Sonoma Co., California, USA
Place of Conservation of Type Material:National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 145596.
Year of Discovery:1988
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:
Ammoniojarosite

Physical Properties of Ammonioalunite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Grayish white
Comment:colorless in thin section.
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 3
Cleavage:Perfect
perfect on {0001}(by analogy with the alunite group).

Crystallography of Ammonioalunite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.01Å, c = 17.88Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.551
Unit Cell Volume:V 760.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:As rhombohedral crystals, to 20 μm, forming granular masses.

Optical Data of Ammonioalunite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.590 nε = 1.602
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate

Chemical Properties of Ammonioalunite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
Essential elements:Al, H, N, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, N, O, S

Relationship of Ammonioalunite to other Species

Member of:Alunite Subgroup
Other Members of Group:

- +
Alunite
KAl
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
Natroalunite
(Na,K)Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.BC.05D'Ansite
Na
 
21
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
10
Cl
 
3
7.BC.10Alunite
KAl
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Ammoniojarosite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Argentojarosite
AgFe
3+
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Beaverite-(Cu)
Pb(Fe
3+
 
,Cu)
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Dorallcharite
(Tl,K)Fe
3+
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Huangite
Ca
 
0.5
Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Hydroniumjarosite
(H
 
3
O)Fe
3+
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Jarosite
KFe
3+
 
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Minamiite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
,K)Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Natroalunite
(Na,K)Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Natrojarosite
NaFe
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Osarizawaite
Pb(Al,Cu)
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Plumbojarosite
Pb
 
0.5
Fe
3+
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Schlossmacherite
(H
 
3
O,Ca)Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Walthierite
Ba
 
0.5
Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.10Beaverite-(Zn)
Pb(Fe
3+
2
Zn)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.15Ye'elimite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
6
(SO
 
4
)O
 
12
7.BC.20Atlasovite
K(BiO)Cu
 
6
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
O
 
3
Cl
7.BC.20Nabokoite
KCu
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)OCl
7.BC.25Chlorothionite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)Cl
 
2
7.BC.30Euchlorine
KNaCu
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
O
7.BC.30Fedotovite
K
 
2
Cu
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
O
7.BC.35Kamchatkite
KCu
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
OCl
7.BC.40Piypite
K
 
2
Cu
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
O
7.BC.45Klyuchevskite
K
 
3
Cu
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(SO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
2
7.BC.45Alumoklyuchevskite
K
 
3
Cu
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)(SO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
2
7.BC.50Caledonite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
7.BC.55Wherryite
Pb
 
7
Cu
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
7.BC.60Mammothite
Pb
 
6
Cu
 
4
AlSb(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
18
Cl
 
4
7.BC.65Linarite
PbCu(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
7.BC.65Schmiederite
Pb
 
2
Cu
 
2
(Se
6+
 
O
 
4
)(Se
4+
 
O
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
7.BC.65Munakataite
Pb
 
2
Cu
 
2
(Se
4+
 
O
 
3
)(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
7.BC.70Chenite
Pb
 
4
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
7.BC.75Krivovichevite
Pb
 
3
Al(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
7
7.BC.80Anhydrokainite
KMg(SO
 
4
)Cl
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.1.1Thenardite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.2Matteuccite
NaHSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
25.1.3Mirabilite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
 · 10H
 
2
O
25.1.4Arcanite
K
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.5Mercallite
KHSO
 
4
25.1.6Misenite
K
 
8
H
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
25.1.7Aphthitalite
(K,Na)
 
3
Na(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.1.8Mascagnite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.9Letovicite
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
H(SO
 
4
)
 
2

Other Names for Ammonioalunite

Synonyms:
IMA1986-037
Other Languages:
German:Ammonioalunit
Spanish:Ammonioalunita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Ammonioalunite

Reference List:

- +
Altaner, S. P., Fitzpatrick, J. J., Krohn, M. D., Bethke, P. M., Hayba, D. O., Goss, J. A. and Brown, Z. A. (1988): Ammonium in alunites. American Mineralogist: 73: 145-152.

Internet Links for Ammonioalunite

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    • Localities for Ammonioalunite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
    		Zacek, V., Oplustil, S., Mayova, A. & Meyer, F. R. (1995): Die Mineralien von Kladno in Mittelböhmen, Tschechische Republik. Mineralien-Welt 6 (1), 13-30 (in German).
      • Hradec Králové Region
        • Trutnov (Trautenau)
          • Radvanice
    		Jirásek, J.: Thermal Changes of the Rocks in the Dump Pile of the Kateřina Colliery in Radvanice (Eastern Bohemia). Ostrava: VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Institute of Geological Engineering - 541, 2001. 69 p.
    Germany
     
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Aachen
        • Alsdorf
    		XRD analyses Dr. Thomas Witzke ; not published
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
        • Ronneburg U deposit
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Poland
     
    • Upper Silesia (Śląskie)
      • Upper Silesian Coal Basin
        • Katowice area
    		Parafiniuk, J. and Kruszewski, Ł. (2009): Ammonium minerals from burning coal-dumps of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland). Geol. Quart., 53, 341-356. http://www.pgi.gov.pl/images/stories/G_Q/53_3/parafiniuk.pdf]
    USA
     
    • California
      • Napa Co.
        • Knoxville District
          • Knoxville
    		Journal of Volcanology & Geothermal Resources: 56: 401-414.
      • Sonoma Co.
        • Mayacmas Mts (Mayacamas Mts)
          • West Mayacmas District
    		American Mineralogist (1988): 73: 145-152.; Dunning, G. S. & Cooper, J. F. (1993): History and minerals of The Geysers Sonoma County, California. Mineralogical Record 24 (5): 339-352
    • Nevada
      • Elko Co.
    		Jour.Volcanology & Geothermal Res. 56:401-414; American Mineralogist (1988): 73: 145-152.
      • Washoe Co.
        • Nightingale District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
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