alunite

American  

[al-yuh-nahyt] / ˈæl yəˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a mineral, a hydrous sulfate of potassium and aluminum, KAl 3 (SO4 ) 2 (OH) 6 , commonly occurring in fine-grained masses.

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alunite British  

/ ˈæljʊˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a white, grey, or reddish mineral consisting of hydrated aluminium sulphate. It occurs in volcanic igneous rocks and is a source of potassium and aluminium compounds. Formula: KAl 3 (SO 4 ) 2 (OH) 6

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Etymology

Origin of alunite

1865–70; < French alun (< Latin alūmen alum ¹ ) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Instead, they will use alunite, a grey-white mineral.

From Time Magazine Archive

But OPM did not specify whether alunite ore could be used, hemmed & hawed over location of the plant.

From Time Magazine Archive

His alunite process has been approved by the Bureau of Mines and OPM's own technical staff, has been used successfully in Japan.

From Time Magazine Archive

But the alunite process yields one-half ton of sulfate potash worth $18.12 and one-third ton sulfuric acid worth $6, as byproducts.

From Time Magazine Archive

The alunite beds near Marysville, Utah, were worked for all they were worth during the war, but the process does not give potash cheap enough for our needs in ordinary times.

From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.