Alum Cave, Vulcano Island, Sicily, Italy
Speleothems: pale-green to transparent, globular masses
Frequency: Extremely Rare
Other geologic settings: In the oxidized zone of a copper deposits
Location within cave: near the entrance, along a crack with excaping hot vapors
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: Cesbron, F., Ginderow. D, Sichère, M. & Vachey, H. 1979. L'aubertite, un nouveau chloro-sulfate hydraté de cuivre et d'aluminium. Bulletin de Minéralogie 102: 348-350
Type of rock: volcanic tuff
Group: Sulfates
Chemical formula: Cu2+Al(SO4)2Cl·14H2O
[According to the official IMA-CNMNC List of Mineral Names (http://nrmima.nrm.se/imalist.htm)]
Deposition and stability: deposited as a result of the fumarole activity and acid weathering of the volcanic ash and tuff
Color: pale-green to transparent
Luster: glassy
optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction
Other methods: SEM
Mineral assemblage: +chalcanthite, sodium alum, tamarugite, gypsum
- Triclinic