Kalinite

Kalinite is a mineral composed of hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate (a type of alum). It is a fibrous monoclinic alum, distinct from isometric potassium alum,[6] named in 1868. Its name comes from kalium (derived from Arabic: القَلْيَه al-qalyah “plant ashes”) which is the Latin name for potassium, hence its chemical symbol, "K".

Not to be confused with kaolinite.
Kalinite
Kalinite from the Virgin Valley District, Nevada, USA. Specimen size 5.4 cm
General
CategorySulfate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)		KAl(SO4)2·11H2O
IMA symbolKli[1]
Strunz classification7.CC.15
Dana classification29.5.4.2
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupC2/c
Unit cella = 19.92(16), b = 9.27(3)
c = 8.304(13) Å
β = 98.79(19)°; Z = 4
Identification
Formula mass456.37 g/mol
ColorWhite to pale blue
Crystal habitFibrous
FractureConchoidal
Mohs scale hardness2 to 2.5
LusterVitreous
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity1.75 (observed) 2.0 (calculated)
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα = 1.429 to 1.430, nβ = 1.452, nγ = 1.456 to 1.458
BirefringenceNone
2V angle52° (measured), 82° (calculated)
SolubilitySoluble in water
Other characteristicsNot fluorescent, barely detectable radioactivity
References[2][3][4][5]

A proposal to remove recognition of kalinite as a mineral species was submitted to the International Mineralogical Association,[5] however, kalinite is still on the list of approved minerals.[7] Many older samples, however, have been found to be potassium alum.[3]

Environment

Kalinite is a rare secondary mineral observed in the oxidized zone of mineral deposits, as efflorescence on alum slates, in caves, and as a volcanic sublimate.[8] It is associated with jarosite, KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6, and cuprian melanterite (pisanite), (Fe2+,Cu2+)SO4·7H2O, at Quetena, Chile.[9]

References
  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. Gaines et al (1997) Dana’s New Mineralogy, Wiley
  3. Kalinite data in the Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. Kalinite on Webmin
  5. Kalinite on Mindat
  6. American Mineralogist (1923) 8:15
  7. "IMA Mineral List with Database of Mineral Properties".
  8. American Mineralogist (1927) 12:14
  9. American Mineralogist (1938) 23:721
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