jarosite

[ jar-uh-sahyt, juh-roh-sahyt ]

noun

1. a yellowish or brownish mineral, a hydrous sulfate of potassium and iron, KFe 3 (SO 4 ) 2 (OH) 6 , occurring in small crystals or large masses.

jarosite

/ ˈdʒærəˌsaɪt /

noun

1. a yellow to brown secondary mineral consisting of basic hydrated sulphate of iron and potassium in masses or hexagonal crystals. Formula: KFe 3 (SO 4 ) 2 (OH) 6

Word History and Origins

Origin of jarosite¹

1850–55; named after Barranco Jaroso (in Almería, Spain); -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of jarosite¹

C19: from Barranco Jaroso, in Almeria, Spain + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The sulfate deposit, made mainly of jarosite, a hydrous sulfate, was interpreted to have formed when the blanket of volcanic pyroclastic materials came to rest on a glacier and reacted chemically with the ice.

From Science Daily

A yellow-brown mineral called jarosite—rare on Earth but abundant on Mars—has been identified deep in an Antarctic ice core.

From Scientific American

The discovery made headlines, because jarosite needs water to form, along with iron, sulfate, potassium, and acidic conditions.

From Science Magazine

Another idea was that the jarosite was born within massive ice deposits that might have blanketed the planet billions of years ago.

From Science Magazine

As ice sheets grew over time, dust would have accumulated within the ice—and may have been transformed into jarosite within slushy pockets between ice crystals.

From Science Magazine