Aluminite
For the igneous rock type "websterite", see websterite.
| Aluminite | |
|---|---|
 Aluminite from Newhaven, Sussex, England | |
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Al2SO4(OH)4·7H2O |
| Strunz classification | 07.DC.05 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Space group | Monoclinic prismatic H-M symbol: (2/m) Space group: P 21/c |
| Unit cell | a = 7.44 Å, b = 15.583 Å, c = 11.7 Å; β = 110.18°; Z=4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | White to grayish white |
| Crystal habit | Needles and fibrous masses |
| Cleavage | None |
| Fracture | Irregular/uneven |
| Tenacity | Friable |
| Mohs scale hardness | 1 - 2 |
| Luster | Dull to earthy |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent, opaque if massive |
| Specific gravity | 1.66–1.82 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (+) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.459 nβ = 1.464 nγ = 1.470 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.011 |
| 2V angle | Measured: 90°, calculated: 86° |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Aluminite is a hydrous aluminium sulfate mineral with formula: Al2SO4(OH)4·7H2O. It is an earthy white to gray-white monoclinic mineral which almost never exhibits crystal form. It forms botryoidal to mammillary clay-like masses. It has a very soft Mohs hardness of 1–2 and a specific gravity of 1.66–1.82.
It forms in clay and lignite deposits as an oxidation product of pyrite and marcasite along with aluminium silicates. It also occurs in volcanic sublimates, in native sulfur deposits and rarely in caves. It occurs in association with basaluminite, gibbsite, epsomite, gypsum, celestine, dolomite and goethite.[1]
It was first described in 1807 from Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany and named for its aluminium content.[2] It is also known as alley stone, hallite and websterite (named after Orcadian geologist Thomas Webster).
Aluminite is used by tile and masonry workers to reduce the setting time of mortars.[citation needed]