Ammonioalunite
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About Ammonioalunite
Formula:
(NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6
Colour:
Grayish white
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2 - 3
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.
Classification of Ammonioalunite
Approved
6/B.11-30
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
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).
Optical Data of Ammonioalunite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.590 nε = 1.602
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.012

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:
Moderate
Chemical Properties of Ammonioalunite
Formula:
(NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6
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)
Morphology:
As rhombohedral crystals, to 20 μm, forming granular masses.
Type Occurrence of Ammonioalunite
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
German:Ammonioalunit
Spanish:Ammonioalunita
Relationship of Ammonioalunite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this 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 (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. |
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 | NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : 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. |
Walthierite | Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Kaolinite | 1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Kaolinite on mindat.org. |
Pyracmonite | 1 photo of Ammonioalunite associated with Pyracmonite on mindat.org. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
7.BC. | Adranosite-(Fe) | (NH4)4NaFe3+2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/acd |
7.BC. | Adranosite | (NH4)4NaAl2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/acd |
7.BC.05 | D'Ansite | Na21Mg(SO4)10Cl3 | Iso. |
7.BC.10 | Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Ammoniojarosite | (NH4)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Argentojarosite | AgFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Beaverite-(Cu) | Pb(Fe3+2Cu)(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Dorallcharite | TlFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Huangite | Ca0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
7.BC.10 | Hydroniumjarosite | (H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Jarosite | KFe3+ 3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Natroalunite-2c | (Na,Ca0.5,K)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Natroalunite | NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Osarizawaite | Pb(Al2Cu2+)(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Plumbojarosite | Pb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
7.BC.10 | Schlossmacherite | (H3O)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
7.BC.10 | Walthierite | Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
7.BC.10 | Beaverite-(Zn) | Pb(Fe3+2Zn)(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
7.BC.15 | Ye'elimite | Ca4Al6(SO4)O12 | Iso. |
7.BC.20 | Atlasovite | K(BiO)Cu6Fe3+(SO4)5O3Cl | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/ncc |
7.BC.20 | Nabokoite | KCu7(SO4)5(Te4+O3)OCl | Tet. |
7.BC.25 | Chlorothionite | K2Cu(SO4)Cl2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.BC.30 | Euchlorine | KNaCu3(SO4)3O | Mon. |
7.BC.30 | Fedotovite | K2Cu3(SO4)3O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
7.BC.35 | Kamchatkite | KCu3(SO4)2OCl | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.BC.40 | Piypite | K4Cu4O2(SO4)4 · (Na,Cu)Cl | Tet. |
7.BC.45 | Klyuchevskite | K3Cu3(Fe3+,Al)(SO4)4O2 | Mon. |
7.BC.45 | Alumoklyuchevskite | K3Cu3(Al,Fe3+)(SO4)4O2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
7.BC.50 | Caledonite | Pb5Cu2(SO4)3(CO3)(OH)6 | Orth. mm2 : Pmn21 |
7.BC.55 | Wherryite | Pb7Cu2(SO4)4(SiO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
7.BC.60 | Mammothite | Pb6Cu4AlSb5+O2(OH)16Cl4(SO4)2 | Mon. 2 : B2 |
7.BC.65 | Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
7.BC.65 | Schmiederite | Pb2Cu2(Se6+O4)(Se4+O3)(OH)4 | Mon. |
7.BC.65 | Munakataite | Pb2Cu2(Se4+O3)(SO4)(OH)4 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
7.BC.70 | Chenite | Pb4Cu(SO4)2(OH)6 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
7.BC.75 | Krivovichevite | Pb3Al(OH)6(SO4)(OH) | Trig. 3m : R3c |
7.BC.80 | Anhydrokainite | KMg(SO4)Cl |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
30.2.4.1 | Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
30.2.4.3 | Schlossmacherite | (H3O)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
30.2.4.4 | Osarizawaite | Pb(Al2Cu2+)(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
30.2.4.5 | Natroalunite-2c | (Na,Ca0.5,K)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
30.2.4.7 | Walthierite | Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
30.2.4.8 | Huangite | Ca0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
25.1.1 | Thénardite | Na2SO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Fddd |
25.1.2 | Matteuccite | NaHSO4 · H2O | Mon. |
25.1.3 | Mirabilite | Na2SO4 · 10H2O | Mon. 2/m |
25.1.4 | Arcanite | K2SO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
25.1.5 | Mercallite | KHSO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
25.1.6 | Misenite | K8H6(SO4)7 | Mon. |
25.1.7 | Aphthitalite | (K,Na)3Na(SO4)2 | Trig. |
25.1.8 | Mascagnite | (NH4)2SO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
25.1.9 | Letovicite | (NH4)3H(SO4)2 | Tric. |
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.
References for Ammonioalunite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Altaner, S.P., Fitzpatrick, J.J., Krohn, M.D., Bethke, P.M., Hayba, D.O., Goss, J.A., Brown, Z.A. (1988) Ammonium in alunites. American Mineralogist: 73: 145-152.
Bayliss, P., Kolitsch, U., Nickel, E.H., Pring, A. (2010) Alunite supergroup: recommended nomenclature. Mineralogical Magazine: 74: 919-927.
Parafiniuk, J., Kruszewski, Ł. (2010) Minerals of the ammonioalunite–ammoniojarosite series formed on a burning coal dump at Czerwionka, Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland. Mineralogical Magazine: 74: 731-745.
Internet Links for Ammonioalunite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-203.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Ammonioalunite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| 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). |
Tony Nikischer | |
| 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 | |
| Witzke, T., de Wit, F., Kolitsch, U. and Blaß, G. (2015): Mineralogy of the Burning Anna I Coal Mine Dump, Alsdorf, Germany. Chapter 7, pp. 203-240, in: Stracher, G. B., Prakash, A. and Sokol, E. V.: Coal and Peat Fires: A Global Perspective, Volume 3: Case Studies - Coal Fires, Elsevier, 786 pp. |
| T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64 |
Hungary | |
| Szabó, D., Lovász, A., Weiszburg, T., Szakáll, S., Kristály, F. (2015): Ammonioalunite and adranosite-Al. New mineral species from the burning coal dumps of Pécs-Vasas, Hungary. Poster session presented at: 6th Mineral Sciences in the Carpathians Conference; 2015 May 16-19; Veszprém, Hungary. |
Lebanon | |
| Kruszewski, Ł., 2018/2019. Secondary sulfate minerals from Bhanine valley coals (South Lebanon) – a crystallochemical and geochemical study. Geological Quarterly (in press) |
Poland | |
| 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] |
| Ciesielczuk, J., Misz-Kennan, M., Hower, J. C., & Fabiańska, M. J. (2014). Mineralogy and geochemistry of coal wastes from the Starzykowiec coal-waste dump (Upper Silesia, Poland). International Journal of Coal Geology, 127, 42-55. |
USA | |
| Journal of Volcanology & Geothermal Resources: 56: 401-414. |
| 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 |
| Jour.Volcanology & Geothermal Res. 56:401-414; American Mineralogist (1988): 73: 145-152. |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
Kladno Mine, Libušin, Kladno, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic