alunite

American

[al-yuh-nahyt] / ˈæl yəˌnaɪt /

noun

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

alunite British

/ ˈæljʊˌnaɪt /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of alunite

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A subsulphate of alumina and potash; alunite.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Time Magazine Archive

A report recommending alunite as an aluminum source was prepared by the Bureau of Mines more than six weeks ago.

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023