Alunogen
Alunogen is an aluminum sulfate, occurring in fumaroles - volcanic 'hot vents' that often
carry Sulfur and other sulfate minerals - and in coal deposits, where it is formed by
decomposing sulfides. It usually forms crystalline crusts or chunks. The name
'Alunogen' is derived from Greek, meaning 'forming Alum' in allusion to its occasional
use for that purpose.
Specimen Handling
Alunogen is quite brittle and should be treated with extreme care. It is water soluble and
should be protected against humidity. Alunogen specimens often contain traces of
sulfuric acid, that may damage paper, card board or wood, and should be stored in a
way so they will not damage the surroundings.
Bibliography
Blackburn, William H. & William H. Dennen. 1997. Encyclopedia of mineral
names. Canadian Mineralogist, special publication 1.
Gaines, Richard W., H. Catherine W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason,
Abraham Rosenzweig & Vandall T. King. 1997. Dana's new mineralogy: the
system of mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th
ed.
Hintze, Carl (ed.) 1898-1904. Handbuch der Mineralogie, vol. 1, section 1.
Hintze, Carl (ed.) 1929-1930. Handbuch der Mineralogie, vol. 1, section 3, part
2.
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert Wallace Webb. 1948. Minerals of California. State of
California, Division of Mines Bulletin. 136
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert Wallace Webb. 1956. Minerals of California. State of
California, Division of Mines Bulletin. 173
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert Wallace Webb. 1966. Minerals of California,
centennial volume (1866-1966). State of California, Division of Mines and Geology
Bulletin. 191
Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel. 1951. The system of
mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University
1837-1892, 7th ed. Vol. 2.
Pemberton, H. Earl. 1983. Minerals of California.
Ramdohr, Paul & Hugo Strunz. 1980. Klockmann's Lehrbuch der Mineralogie,
16th ed.
Roberts, Willard Lincoln, Thomas J. Campbell & George Robert Rapp jr. 1990.
Encyclopedia of Minerals 2nd ed.
This page is authored by Claus Hedegaard.
Mineraler