Kalinite

KAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O
IMA status
  • Approved
  • Grandfathered
IMA symbol
Kli
Discovered
1868
Also known as
  • Alumotrichit
  • Alumotrichita
  • Alumotrichite
  • +4 more

Where it forms, where it's found

49recorded occurrences
Source · OpenStreetMap

Physical

Hardness
123456789102/ 10 MOHS
  1. 1Talc
  2. 2Gypsum
  3. 3Calcite
  4. 4Fluorite
  5. 5Apatite
  6. 6Orthoclase
  7. 7Quartz
  8. 8Topaz
  9. 9Corundum
  10. 10Diamond
Transparency
Transparent
Colour
White to pale blue
Density
1.75 g/cm³

Optical

Optical type
Biaxial (-) · 2V measured = 52° · 2V calc = 82°
Refractive index
1.43 – 1.485
Surface relief
Low
Principal indices
nα 1.43 · nβ 1.452 · nγ 1.485
Dispersion
none
Michel-Lévy diagramhighlighted lineδ = 0.0550
Attainable Michel-Lévy rangeΔ ∈ [0, t·δmax]550 nm1st order
Δ = 0Δmax
Thin-section mosaic70 grains · random 3D orientations
PPLpleochroism per grain
XPLindependent extinctions · rotate the stage
Interference simulatorsingle grain · PPL ↔ XPL
PPLpleochroism only · colour blends on rotation
XPLinterference colour · extinct every 90°
Retardation550 nm
Order1st order
XPL colour

Crystallography

Crystal system
Monoclinic
Space group
#10
Cell parameters
a = 19.92(16) Å · b = 9.27(3) Å · c = 8.304(13) Å
Cell angles
β = 98.79(19) °
Ratio a:b:c
1 : 0.465 : 0.417
Z
4

Chemical composition

Constituent elements
Mass composition breakdown
ElementAtoms At. mass g/mol Mass g/molMass share
8OOxygenOxygen1915.999303.981
66.61%
16SSulfurSulfur232.06064.120
14.05%
19KPotassiumPotassium139.09839.098
8.57%
13AlAluminiumAluminium126.98226.982
5.91%
1HHydrogenHydrogen221.00822.176
4.86%
Total456.357100.00%

Mass share = atoms × atomic mass ÷ molar mass × 100

From IMA formula

Synonyms

  • Alumotrichit
  • Alumotrichita
  • Alumotrichite
  • Kaliniet
  • Kalinischer Alumsulphat
  • Potash Alum
  • Potassalumite

In other languages

French
kalinite
German
Kalinit
Spanish
calinita · kalinita
Italian
kalinite

Classification

Strunz
10th ed.

7.CC.15

  • 7SulfatesClass
  • 7.CSulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2ODivision
  • 7.CCWith medium-sized and large cationsGroup
  • 7.CC.15KaliniteSpecies
Dana
8th ed.

29.05.04.02

  • 29Hydrated Acid and Normal SulfatesClass
  • 29.05AB(XO4)2·xH2OType
  • 29.05.04— unnamed intermediate level —Group
  • 29.05.04.02KaliniteSpecies
CIM

25.6.16

  • 25SulphatesClass
  • 25.6Sulphates of Al and TlGroup
  • 25.6.16KaliniteSpecies

Literature, links & citation

Citations
  1. 1868Dana, James D., Brush, George Jarvis (1868) A System of Mineralogy (5th ed.). p.882
  2. 1875Weisbach, Albin (1875) Synopsis mineralogical, systematische Übersicht des Mineralreiches. 78 pp., Freiberg: 9.
  3. 1931Winchell, A. (1931) The Microscopic Characters of Artificial Inorganic Solid Substances or Artificial Minerals. Second edition, 403 pp., New York and London.: 259 (as Potassalumite).
  4. 1951Palache, Charles; Berman, Harry; Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons.
  5. 2005(2005) Kalinite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America
Cite this entry
@misc{mineral2026,
  author    = {Mineral Index editorial board},
  title     = {Kalinite — Mineral Index},
  year      = {2026},
  url       = {https://mineralindex.org/minerals/kalinite-2137},
  note      = {Accessed 2026-05-11}
}