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Alum-(K)

Big Photo

Alum mine, Alum District, Esmeralda Co., Nevada, USA
© Martins da Pedra

Show Alum-(K) Photos (3)
Formula:
KAl[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
System:IsometricColour:Colourless, white; ...
Hardness:2


Alum Group

Classification of Alum-(K)

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.14-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CC.20

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:29.5.5.1

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
5 : AB(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.6.17

25 : Sulphates
6 : Sulphates of Al and Tl
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Physical Properties of Alum-(K)

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, white; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):2
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
{111}, traces.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):1.757 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.753 g/cm3

Crystallography of Alum-(K)

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3 (2/m 3) - Diploidal
Morphology:Crystals octahedral if precipitated from pure water solution; cubic from alkaline solutions. Commonly massive with a columnar or granular structure; stalactitic, mealy coatings.
Twinning:On {111}, very rare.
Crystal Atlas:
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Potassiumalum no.3 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Potassiumalum no.27 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Potassiumalum no.28 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Alum-(K)

Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Alum-(K)

Formula:
KAl[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, K, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, K, O, S
Analyical Data:Soluble in water (11.4 g. in H2O at 20°).
Relationship of Alum-(K) to other Species
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
7.CC.05Krausite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
7.CC.10Amarillite
NaFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.10Tamarugite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.15Kalinite
KAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O Not confirmed
7.CC.15Mendozite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Lonecreekite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
 
[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Alum-(Na)
NaAl[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Tschermigite
(NH
 
4
)Al[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Lanmuchangite
Tl
+
 
Al[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.25Voltaite
K
 
2
Fe
2+
5
Fe
3+
3
Al[SO
 
4
]
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
7.CC.25Zincovoltaite
K
 
2
Zn
 
5
Fe
3+
3
Al[SO
 
4
]
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
7.CC.30Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
7.CC.35Ferrinatrite
Na
 
3
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
7.CC.40Goldichite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.45Löweite
Na
 
12
Mg
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
13
7.CC.50Blödite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.50Nickelblödite
Na
 
2
(Ni,Mg)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.50Changoite
Na
 
2
Zn(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.50Zincblödite
7.CC.55Leonite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.55Mereiterite
K
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Boussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Konyaite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Mohrite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Nickelboussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ni(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Picromerite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.65Polyhalite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
7.CC.65Wattevilleite
Na
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O (?)
7.CC.70Leightonite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
25.6.1Rostite
Al[OH|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.2Jurbanite
Al[OH|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.3Khademite
Al[F|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.4Meta-aluminite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.5Aluminite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
25.6.6Meta-alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·12H
 
2
O
25.6.7Alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·17H
 
2
O
25.6.8Felsőbányaite
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.9Basaluminite
25.6.10Hydrobasaluminite
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 12-36H
 
2
O
25.6.11Zaherite
Al
 
12
[(OH)
 
26
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
] · 20H
 
2
O
25.6.12Tamarugite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.6.13Mendozite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O
25.6.14Alum-(Na)
NaAl[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
25.6.15Natroalunite
(Na,K)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.6.16Kalinite
KAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O Not confirmed
25.6.18Alunite
KAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.6.19Minamiite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
,K)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.6.20Tschermigite
(NH
 
4
)Al[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Other Names for Alum-(K)
Synonyms:
Potassium Alum
German names:
Kalialaun
Russian names:
Алюмокалиевые квасцы
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 Alum-(K)
Reference List:Dana, J.D. (1868) System of Mineralogy, 5th. Edition, New York: 652.



Weisbach, Albin (1875) Synopsis mineralogical, systematische Übersicht des Mineralreiches. 78 pp., Freiberg: 9.



Klocke (1878) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 2: 126.



Klocke (1880) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart.: I: 56.



Klocke (1881) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart.: II: 267.



Wulff (1881) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 5: 81.



Brauns (1883) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart.: II: 102.



Pfaff (1884) Sitzber. bayer. Ak. Wiss.: 255.



Soret (1884) Arch. sc. phys. nat. Genève: 12: 376.



Brauns (1885) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart.: I: 96.



Brauns (1891) Die opt. Anom. der Kristalle, Leiopzig.



Pockels (1892) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart., Beil.-Bd: 8: 217. 



Groth (1908) Chemische Krystallographie. Leipzig. 5 volumes: vol. 2: 565. 



Bauhans (1913) Verh. Nat. Ver. Heidelberg: 12: 319.



Beckenkamp (1913) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 51: 492.



Valeton (1921) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 56: 434.



Britton (1922) Journal of the Chemical Society, London: 121: 982.



Friedel (1924) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 179: 796.



Spangenberg (1925) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 61: 189.



Spangenberg (1928) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart. Beil.-Bd.: 57: 1197.



Alfani (1933) Periodico de Mineralogia-Roma: 4: 395.



Wendekamm (1933) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 85, 169.



Lipson and Beevers (1935) Proceeding of the Royal Society, London: 148A: 664.



Frondel, C. (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 91.



Spangenberg and Baldermann-Fiola (1949) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatsh., Abt. A: 113.



Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume II: 472-474.



Acta Crystallographica (1967): 22: 793.
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    Localities for Alum-(K)
    
	






    


    

    
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    (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.

    Austria
     
    

    • Salzburg
    

      • Hallein
    

        • Dürrnberg
    
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs, 1989
    

    • Tyrol
    

      • North Tyrol
    

        • Inn valley
    
    		Lapis 19(7/8):13-78 (1994)
    Bolivia
     
    

    • Potosí Department
    

      • Cerro Huañaquino
    
    		Salomon Rivas & Federico Ahlfeld (1998) Los Minerales de Bolivia y sus Parajes. (Santa Cruz)
    


      • Daniel Campos Province
    

        • San Pablo de Napa
    
    		[www.hedegaard.com]
    Chile
     
    

    • Antofagasta Region
    

      • El Loa Province
    

        • Calama
    
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 473.
    China
     
    

    • Guizhou Province
    

      • Qianxi'nan Autonomous Prefecture
    

        • Xingren Co.
    
    		Acta Mineral. Sinica: 21(3):271-277, in Chinese, English abs.
    Germany
     
    

    • Baden-Württemberg
    

      • Black Forest
    

        • Wolfach
    

          • Oberwolfach
    

            • Rankach valley
    
    		Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German)
    



        • Zell am Harmersbach
    

          • Biberach
    
    		Aufschluss 1984(1), 1-5
    

    • Hesse
    

      • North Hesse
    

        • Richelsdorf District
    

          • Süss
    

            • Richelsdorf Smelter
    
    		S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1992
    

    • North Rhine-Westphalia
    

      • Aachen
    

        • Alsdorf
    
    		Blaß, G. and Graf, H.-W. (1996): Neue mineralogische Erkenntnisse und neue Funde aus Eifel, Schwarzwald und Siegerland. Mineralien-Welt 7 (2), 55-64. (in German)
    

    • Saarland
    

      • Saar coal mining area
    

        • Saarbrücken
    

          • Dudweiler (Duttweiler)
    
    		H. Schneider: "Saarland", Sammlung geologischer Führer Vol. 84, Borntraeger (Berlin, Stuttgart), 1991
    

    • Thuringia
    

      • Gera
    

        • Ronneburg U deposit
    
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Hungary
     
    

    • Baranya Co.
    

      • Mecsek Mts.
    

        • Komló
    
    		Geoda 2007/1
    

    • Heves Co.
    

      • Mátra Mts.
    

        • Parádfürdő
    
    		Own collecting and analysed(2005)
    



Geoda,2005
    Italy
     
    

    • Campania
    

      • Naples Province
    

        • Phlegrean Fields
    

          • Cape Miseno
    
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 396, 473.
    



        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    
    		Russo, M., 2006: I minerali di formazione fumarolica della grande eruzione vesuviana del 1906
    




Russo, M., Punzo, I. (2004): I minerali del Somma-Vesuvio, AMI
    

    • Latium
    

      • Rome Province
    

        • Campagnano di Roma
    

          • Sacrofano
    
    		A. del Caldo, C. Moro, C.M. Gramaccioli, M. Boscardin: Guida ai Minerali - Fabbri ed. 1973
    

    • Sicily
    

      • Messina Province
    

        • Lipari
    

          • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
    

            • Vulcano Island
    

              • Porto Levante
    
    		COSSA A. (1881) : Ricerche chimiche e microscopiche su roccie e minerali d'Italia.  Allume potassico dell' Isola Vulcano. - Regia Stazione Agraria Sperimentale di Torino - Tip. V.  Bona.
    






COSSA A. (1881) : Ricerche chimiche e microscopiche su roccie e minerali d'Italia.  Allume potassico dell'Isola Vulcano. - Regia Stazione Agraria Sperimentale di Torino - Tip. V.  Bona.
    





COSSA A. (1881) : Ricerche chimiche e microscopiche su roccie e minerali d'Italia.  Allume potassico dell' Isola Vulcano. - Regia Stazione Agraria Sperimentale di Torino - Tip. V.  Bona.
    

    • Tuscany
    

      • Siena Province
    

        • Chiusdino
    
    		Brizzi G., Ciselli I, Santucci A. (1985) - Le Cetine di Cotorniano: storia e mineralogia - Riv. Miner. Ital., 9(1): 1-12; 9(2): 55-64; 9(3): 89-99
    Poland
     
    

    • Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie)
    

      • Lubań District
    
    		Berg G. 1935: Erläuterungen zu Blatt Lauban. Geol. Karte v. Preussen und benachbarten deutschen Ländern 1:25 000. Lief 333. Preuss. Geol. Landesanst. Berlin
    South Africa
     
    

    • Mpumalanga Province
    

      • Nelspruit District
    
    		Martini, J.E.J. et al (1997), "Mbobo Mkulu Cave, South Africa", in "Cave Minerals of the World" (1997)
    UK
     
    

    • England
    

      • North Yorkshire
    
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 473.
    USA
     
    

    • California
    

      • Contra Costa Co.
    

        • Nortonville
    
    		Dana 7:II:473.
    


      • Lake Co.
    

        • Clear Lake Oaks
    

          • Clear Lake
    
    		Dana 7:I:143; Dana 7:II:473.
    


      • San Bernardino Co.
    

        • Calico Mts
    

          • Calico District
    

            • Borate
    
    		Between the Basins:Exp. Western Mojave & Southern Basin, Range Province, Cal State U.,Desert Studies Consortium, April, 2000
    

    • Colorado
    

      • Delta Co.
    
    		"Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 13, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997
    


      • Jefferson Co.
    
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    

    • Nevada
    

      • Esmeralda Co.
    

        • Alum District
    
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada; Uwe Kolitsch (SXRD-analysis; confirmed ID)
    

    • Ohio
    

      • Sciota Co.
    
    		Minerals of Ohio Bull. 69 ODNR
    


      • Summit Co.
    

        • Cuyahoga Falls
    

          • Cuyahoga Gorge Park
    
    		Minerals of Ohio Bull. 69 ODNR
    



        • Twinsburg township
    
    		Minerals of Ohio Bull. 69 ODNR
    

    • Pennsylvania
    

      • Lancaster Co.
    

        • Martic Township
    
    		Reed, Juliet C. (1976), Annotated Biblio. of Mins. New to the PA List 1965-1974, The Min. Soc. of PA, Inc.: 65; Gordon, S. G. (1922), Mineralogy of PA: 146; Montgomery, Arthur (Jan, 1963), "Gordon's PA Min. List," in PA Mins. (PM), PM (3), Keystone Newsletter
    


      • Schuylkill Co.
    
    		Reed, Juliet C. (1976), Annotated Biblio. of Mins. New to the PA List 1965-1974, The Mineralogical Soc. of PA, Inc.: 19 & 23, 59, 65-66; Downey, W. F., Jr. (1974), "Geol. Conditions in Burning Anthracite-NE PA," Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts w. Programs, Vol. 5(1):19-20;
    

    • Tennessee
    

      • Sevier Co.
    

        • Great Smoky Mts
    
    		Jan H.Bernard and Jaroslav Hyrsl,2004, Minerals and their Localities, pg 480.
    

    • Utah
    

      • Piute Co.
    

        • Marysvale District (Marysvale Uranium area)
    
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    

    


    

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