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Aluminite

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Newhaven, East Sussex, England, UK
© Bill Gordon

Show Aluminite Photos (6)
Formula:
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:White to yellow, grey; ...
Hardness:1 - 2
Name:Named in 1807 for its composition, containing principally aluminium.


Aluminite Group.

Found as earthy reniform or nodular masses composed of tiny fibrous crystals.

Classification of Aluminite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.06-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DC.05

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 7th edition ID:31.7.4.1
Dana 8th edition ID:31.7.4.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.6.5

25 : Sulphates
6 : Sulphates of Al and Tl
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Type Occurrence of Aluminite

Type Locality:Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Year of Discovery:1807

Occurrences of Aluminite

Geological Setting:Found as concretionary deposits in Tertiary to Quaternary clays, marls, and lignites, formed by the action of sulfate solutions derived from the decay of pyrite or marcasite on aluminous silicates.

Physical Properties of Aluminite

Lustre:Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:White to yellow, grey; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 2
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Fragile
Cleavage:None Observed
None
Parting:None
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):1.7 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.794 g/cm3

Crystallography of Aluminite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 7.44Å, b = 15.583Å, c = 11.7Å
β = 110.18°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.477 : 1 : 0.751
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,273.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Occurs as earthy reniform or nodular masses comprised of tiny fibrous crystals; spherulitic; veinlet fillings.
Twinning:None noted.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
8.98(100)
7.79(90)
6.37(40)
5.49(30)
5.01(40)
4.70(50)
3.74(40)

Optical Data of Aluminite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.459 nβ = 1.464 nγ = 1.470
2V:Measured: 90° , Calculated: 86°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.011

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Aluminite

Formula:
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, O, S

Relationship of Aluminite to other Species

Member of Group:
Aluminite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DC.05Meta-aluminite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
7.DC.10Butlerite
Fe
3+
 
[OH|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DC.10Parabutlerite
Fe
3+
 
[OH|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DC.15Fibroferrite
Fe
3+
 
[OH|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
7.DC.20Xitieshanite
Fe
3+
 
[Cl|SO
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
7.DC.25Botryogen
MgFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.25Zincobotryogen
(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Fe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.30Chaidamuite
ZnFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)·4H
 
2
O
7.DC.30Guildite
CuFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
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
25.6.6Meta-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
] · 4H
 
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
25.6.17Alum-(K)
KAl[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
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 Aluminite

Synonyms:
Alley stoneHallite (of Delamétherie)Native ArgillWebsterite
Other Languages:
French:Hydrosulfate d'alumine
German:Aluminit
Reine Thonerde
Websterit
Russian:Алюминит
Spanish:Aluminita
Websterita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids.
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 Aluminite

Reference List:Werner, A.G. (1780) Cronstedt’s Versuch einer Mineralogie, Übersetzt und Vermehrt. Vol. 1, part 1, Leipzig: 176 (as Reine Thonerde).

Kirwan, R. (1784) Elements of Mineralogy. First edition, London: 1: 175 (as Native Argill).

Haberle (1807) Das Mineralreich, etc. (as Aluminit)

Karsten, D.L.G. (1808) Mineralogische Tabellen, Berlin. second edition: 48 (as Aluminit).

Delamétherie, J.C. (1812) Leçons de minéralogie. 8vo, volume 2, Paris (as Hallite).

Brongniart in: Haüy (1822): 2: 125 (as Websterite).

Beudant, F.S. (1824), Trailé élémentaire de Minéralogie, 8vo, Paris: 449 (as Websterite).

Fisscher (1880) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 4: 375.

Oldham (1897) Records of the Geological Survey of India: 30: 110.

Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 4: 4: 243.

Zahálka (1911) Böhm. Ges., Sitzber., no. 23.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 38.

Doelter, C. (1927) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 4[2]: 387.

Pilipenko (1927) Wiss. Schr. Univ. Saratow: 6: 167.

Pilipenko (1928) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: I: 298.

Hintze, Carl (1929) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3B]: 4432.

Carobbi (1932) Periodico de Mineralogia-Roma: 3: 204.

Kashkai (1939) Comptes rendus de l’académie des sciences de l’U.R.S.S., n.s.: 24: 931.

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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 600-601.

Acta Crystallographica: 1334: 2407-2412.

Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997), Dana's New Mineralogy : The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 649.

Internet Links for Aluminite

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    Localities for Aluminite

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