Alum Cave, Vulcano Island, Sicily, ltaly
Speleothems: tuff of small crystals inside the yellow floor powder
Frequency: Very Rare
Location within cave: in the great chamber
First description of cave occurrence: Forti, P., Panzica La Manna, M. & Rossi, A. 1995. Il particolare ambiente mineregenetico della Grotta dell'Allume (Vulcano, Sicilia). Atti 2 Con. Reg. Speleol. Catania, 1994, Acta Academia Geoenia 37(384): 251-272 Forti, P., Panzica La Manna, M. & Rossi, A. 1996. The peculiar mineralogic site of the Alum cave (Vulcano, Sicily). Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology (Canary Islands 1994): 35-44.
First description of non-cave occurrence: Berry, L.G. 1947. Composition and optics of copiapite. University of Toronto Studies: VI. Geological Series 51: 21-3
Type of rock: volcanic tuff
Group: Sulfates
Chemical formula: (AlMg)Fe43+(SO4)6(OH,O)2ยท20H2O
[According to the official IMA-CNMNC List of Mineral Names (http://nrmima.nrm.se/imalist.htm)]
Color: transparent