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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of alunite

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

Example Sentences

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

Both sites are near supplies of alunite ore, also not too far from titanic Grand Coulee, which could supply the juice.

From Time Magazine Archive

Only hitch in Eichelberger's plan is that visible U.S. supplies of alunite are enough for only 600,000,000 lb. of aluminum�less than six months' defense needs.

From Time Magazine Archive

Meanwhile, Kal-unite's engineer-president, Frank Eichelberger, started fiddling with alunite.

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.