Kalinite

{{distinguish|kaolinite}}

{{Infobox mineral | name = Kalinite | category = Sulfate minerals | boxwidth = | boxbgcolor = | image = Kalinite 1.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Kalinite from the Virgin Valley District, Nevada, USA. Specimen size 5.4 cm | formula = KAl(SO₄)₂·11H₂O | IMAsymbol = Kli<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}</ref> | molweight = 456.37 g/mol | strunz = 7.CC.15 | dana = 29.5.4.2 | system = Monoclinic | class = Prismatic (2/m) <br/><small>(same H-M symbol)</small> | symmetry = ''C2/c'' | unit cell = a = 19.92(16), b = 9.27(3) <br/>c = 8.304(13)&nbsp;Å <br/>β = 98.79(19)°; Z&nbsp;=&nbsp;4 | color = White to pale blue | habit = Fibrous | lattice = | twinning = | cleavage = | fracture = Conchoidal | tenacity = | mohs = 2 to 2.5 | luster = Vitreous | refractive = n_α = 1.429 to 1.430, n_β = 1.452, n_γ = 1.456 to 1.458 | opticalprop = Biaxial (−) | 2V = 52° (measured), 82° (calculated) | birefringence = None | pleochroism = | streak = White | gravity = 1.75 (observed) 2.0 (calculated) | density = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = Soluble in water | diaphaneity = Transparent | other = Not fluorescent, barely detectable radioactivity| references = <ref name = Dana>Gaines et al (1997) Dana’s New Mineralogy, Wiley</ref><ref name = HOM/><ref name = Webmin>[http://www.webmineral.com/data/Kalinite.shtml Kalinite on Webmin]</ref><ref name = Mindat>[http://www.mindat.org/min-2137.html Kalinite on Mindat]</ref>}}

'''Kalinite''' is a mineral composed of hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate (a type of alum). It is a fibrous monoclinic alum, distinct from isometric potassium alum,<ref name = AM8>American Mineralogist (1923) 8:15</ref> named in 1868. Its name comes from ''kalium'' (derived from Arabic: القَلْيَه al-qalyah "plant ashes", which is the Latin name for potassium, hence its chemical symbol, "K".

A proposal to remove recognition of kalinite as a mineral species was submitted to the International Mineralogical Association;<ref name = Mindat/> however, kalinite is still on the list of approved minerals.<ref name = IMA>{{Cite web|url=http://rruff.info/ima|title=IMA Mineral List with Database of Mineral Properties}}</ref> Many older samples, however, have been found to be potassium alum.<ref name = HOM>[http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/kalinite.pdf Kalinite data in the Handbook of Mineralogy]</ref>

== Environment == Kalinite is a rare secondary mineral observed in the oxidized zone of mineral deposits, as efflorescence on alum slates, in caves, and as a volcanic sublimate.<ref name = AM12>American Mineralogist (1927) 12:14</ref> It is associated with jarosite, KFe³⁺₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆, and cuprian melanterite (pisanite), (Fe²⁺,Cu²⁺)SO₄·7H₂O, at Quetena, Chile.<ref name = AM23>American Mineralogist (1938) 23:721</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Aluminium minerals Category:Potassium minerals Category:Sulfate minerals Category:Monoclinic minerals Category:Minerals in space group 15