Natroalunite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Natroalunite
Formula:
NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Colour:
White, grayish, yellowish, reddish, red-brown; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
2.6 - 2.9
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
In allusion to the dominance of sodium (NATRium in Latin) in the composition and its relationship to ALUNITE.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2850
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2850:5
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
65e24aef-bb6e-4694-9797-ae2a679ca65a
IMA Classification of Natroalunite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Natroalunite
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
25.6.15
25 : Sulphates
6 : Sulphates of Al and Tl
25 : Sulphates
6 : Sulphates of Al and Tl
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 |
---|---|---|
Nalu | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Natroalunite
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Natroalunite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Somewhat pearly on {0001}.
Colour:
White, grayish, yellowish, reddish, red-brown; colourless in transmitted light.
Comment:
White when pure.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {0001}, distinct; on {0112}, traces.
On {0001}, distinct; on {0112}, traces.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Splintery, Conchoidal
Density:
2.6 - 2.9 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.819 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Values measured on massive material.
Optical Data of Natroalunite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.568 nε = 1.590
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.022
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:
Low
Chemistry of Natroalunite
Mindat Formula:
NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Common Impurities:
K
Crystallography of Natroalunite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.97 Å, c = 16.74 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.402
Unit Cell V:
704.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Rarely in small crystals; as druses in massive material or as aggregates. Crystals tabular {0001} or terminated by flat vicinal rhombohedra; rhombohedral and commonly pseudo-cubic {01_12}. Lenticular based on distortion or vicinal development. Massive, granular to dense.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000858 | Natroalunite | Ossaka J, Hirabayashi J, Okada K, Kobayashi R, Hayashi T (1982) Crystal structure of minamiite, a new mineral of the alunite group American Mineralogist 67 114-119 | 1982 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014771 | Natroalunite | Okada K, Hirabayashi J, Ossaka J (1982) Crystal structure of natroalunite and crystal chemistry of the alunite group Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1982 534-540 | 1982 | Sonomi-dake, Makurazaki-city, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
2.96 Å | (100) |
4.90 Å | (70) |
2.98 Å | (70) |
2.22 Å | (40) |
1.895 Å | (35) |
3.49 Å | (25) |
1.745 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
24 : Authigenic minerals in terrestrial sediments (see also #17) | |
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] | |
46 : Near-surface hydrothermal alteration of minerals (see also #22) |
Type Occurrence of Natroalunite
Synonyms of Natroalunite
Other Language Names for Natroalunite
Varieties of Natroalunite
Strontium-bearing Natroalunite | Contains SrO @ 2.81%. |
Relationship of Natroalunite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
Ammonioalunite | (NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
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-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:
9 photos of Natroalunite associated with Hotsonite | Al11(SO4)3(PO4)2(OH)21 · 16H2O |
7 photos of Natroalunite associated with Sillimanite | Al2(SiO4)O |
2 photos of Natroalunite associated with Zinkenite | Pb9Sb22S42 |
1 photo of Natroalunite associated with Bromargyrite | AgBr |
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 | Ammonioalunite | (NH4)Al3(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 | 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
Electrical:
Strongly pyroelectric.
Notes:
Insoluble in water.
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 Natroalunite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2850.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Natroalunite
Reference List:
Schoch, A. E., Beukes, G. J., Praekelt, H. E. (1985) A natroalunite - zaherite - hotsonite paragenesis from Pofadder, Bushmanland, South Africa. The Canadian Mineralogist, 23 (1) 29-34
Scott, Keith M. (1987) Solid solution in, and classification of, gossan-derived members of the alunite-jarosite family, northwest Queensland, Australia. American Mineralogist, 72 (1-2) 178-187
Sato, Eriko, Nakai, Izumi, Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Matsubara, Satoshi (2009) Crystal structures of alunite family minerals: beaverite, corkite, alunite, natroalunite, jarosite, svanbergite, and woodhouseite. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen, 185 (3) 313-322 doi:10.1127/0077-7757/2009/0128
Localities for Natroalunite
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.
Antarctica | |
| Kammerer (2011) |
Argentina | |
| Holley (2012) |
Bengochea +1 other reference | |
| Jovic et al. (2011) |
| Smith (2009) |
Australia | |
| Wray (2001) |
| Wormald (1993) |
| Georgina Gordon (2014) |
| Nicolson et al. (2017) |
| Bottrill et al. (2020) |
Bottrill et al. (2008) | |
| Jacobson et al. (2007) |
Palache et al. (1951) | |
| Simpson (1948) |
Palache et al. (1951) | |
| Nickel (1982) |
| Peter Downes |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2019) |
| Blümel (1962) |
Bolivia | |
| Wilson (2001) |
Wilson (2001) | |
| Salomon Rivas y Federico Ahlfeld (1998) |
Botswana | |
| Brotherton (1979) |
Bulgaria | |
| Hikov et al. (2010) |
| Georgieva et al. (2012) |
Canada | |
| Duuring et al. (2009) |
| SABINA (1976) |
Chile | |
| SEM-EDS by Joy Desor |
| Sample analysed by Dr. Tony Kampf |
Samples analyzed by Dr. Tony Kampf +1 other reference | |
| Vidal et al. (2022) |
Maksaev et al. (2007) | |
| samples analysed by Gerhard Mohn and ... |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Deyell et al. (2005) |
| XRD by Joachim Lorenz |
| Bouzari F (2002) |
China | |
| Zhaoxin Han et al. (2004) +1 other reference |
| Zhou et al. (2022) |
Zhou et al. (2022) | |
Costa Rica | |
| Ulloa et al. (2018) |
Ulloa et al. (2018) | |
| Mick et al. (2021) |
Czech Republic | |
| Varilová et al. (2011) |
Dominican Republic | |
| important factors in grade development. Economic Geology (8) +1 other reference |
El Salvador | |
| Torio-Henríquez (2007) |
France | |
| Lacroix (1910) |
Germany | |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1986) +1 other reference |
Greece | |
| |
LAPIS 24 (7/8) +1 other reference | |
Hanke (1998) | |
| Voudouris et al. (2013) |
| C. Mavrogonatos et al. (2018) |
Voudouris (2005) +1 other reference | |
| Balić-Žunić et al. (2016) |
Guatemala | |
| Stoiber et al. (1974) |
Iceland | |
| Carson (2015) |
| Mineralogy and bulk geochemistry of a ... |
Indonesia | |
| Mulja et al. (2022) |
| Scher et al. (2013) |
| King et al. (2014) |
King et al. (2014) | |
| Sweetapple et al. (2014) |
| Mazot et al. (2007) |
Italy | |
| D’Angeli et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
D’Angeli et al. (2017) +1 other reference | |
| Baldoni et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
Fernando Caboni et al. (2024) | |
| Fernando Caboni et al. (2024) |
| Campostrini et al. (2011) |
Japan | |
| Matsubara et al (1998) +1 other reference |
| Alfredo Petrov specimens |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Sadanaga et al. (1974) |
| PXRD by John Attard |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Kolesar et al. (1993) |
Kolesar et al. (1993) | |
New Zealand | |
| Pangilinan (2005) |
Cody et al. (1979) | |
| de Ronde +17 other references |
Muiruru F.G. (1985) | |
Lloyd et al. (1996) | |
| Simpson |
| Unpublished drill log report to NZ Dept ... |
Nicaragua | |
| Stoiber et al. (1974) +1 other reference |
| Hynek et al. (2013) |
Hynek et al. (2013) | |
Pakistan | |
| M. Qasim Jan et al. (1985) |
Panama | |
| I. Corral et al. (2010) +2 other references |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Gena et al. (2001) +1 other reference |
| Petersen et al. (2002) |
Portugal | |
| Pedro Alves collection and analytical ... |
Russia | |
| Izbrodin et al. (2010) |
| Zelensky et al. (2004) |
Zhitova et al. (2022) | |
Saint Lucia | |
| Goff et al. (1984) |
Slovakia | |
| Juraj ŽItňan (2011) |
| Ďuďa (1993) |
| Koděra P. et al. (2016) |
| Koděra (1986) |
| Sejkora et al. (1998) |
| Koděra (1986) |
South Africa | |
| Atanasova et al. (2016) |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
| Beukes et al. (1984) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Bull. Soc. Franç. Minéralo. ... |
| Calvo (2003) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2014) |
| Calvo (2008) |
| Calvo et al. (1995) |
| Rosell-Riba et al. (2022) |
| Rosell et al. (2006) |
Tonga | |
| Park et al. (2016) |
Turkey | |
| Huseyin Yilmaz et al. (2010) |
| www.odysseyresources.com (2003) |
USA | |
| Scarborough (1981) |
| John Sobolewski collection |
| Ref.: Keith (1978) +1 other reference |
| Palache et al. (1951) +2 other references |
| Wherry (1916) +1 other reference |
| Lemmon (1937) +1 other reference |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 265. +4 other references |
| Robert G. Lee et al. (2005) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| American Mineralogist: 20: 57. +1 other reference |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
Castor et al. (2004) | |
Castor et al. (2004) | |
Castor et al. (2004) | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
Castor et al. (2004) | |
| Silver Coin Mine. Compact Disc. Paul ... |
| Osterberg (1990) |
| Econ Geol (1997) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
Castor et al. (2004) | |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Polyak +1 other reference |
| Ratté (2008) |
| Mineralogy of 10 Geothermal boreholes ... |
| Marshall W. Gannett and Keith E. Bargar +1 other reference |
| Raymond L. Parker (1962) |
| Smith (2016) |
| Smith (2016) |
Smith (1991) | |
| Smith (1991) |
Smith (1991) | |
Smith (1991) | |
Smith (1991) | |
Smith (1991) | |
Smith (2016) | |
| - (2005) +1 other reference |
| - (2005) |
- (2005) | |
- (2005) | |
| - (2005) |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Rye et al. (2003) |
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Sugarloaf Butte, Quartzsite, La Paz County, Arizona, USA