Category Sulfate minerals Strunz classification 7.CB.45 Space group P1 | Formula
(repeating unit) Al2(SO4)3·17H2O Crystal system Triclinic | |
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Crystal class Pinacoidal (1)
(same H-M symbol) | ||
Alunogen also called feather alum and hair salt is a colourless to white (although often coloured by impurities, such as iron substituting for aluminium) fibrous to needle-like aluminium sulfate mineral. It has the chemical formula Al2(SO4)3·17H2O.
It is often found on the walls of mines and quarries as a secondary mineral. It can be found in the oxidation zones of some ore deposits as well as on burning coal dumps (i.e., as the product of millosevichite hydration). It also forms as a low temperature deposit in fumaroles. It occurs associated with pyrite, marcasite, halotrichite, pickeringite, epsomite, potash alum, melanterite and gypsum.
The crystallochemical formula, can be written as: [Al(H2O)6]2(SO4)3.5H2O. The second formula shows that H2O in the alunogen formula occurs both as ligand (coordinative form) and loosely bounded (crystallization) form.
The second form can be easily removed just by slight grinding of the mineral (preserving the unique structure).