alantoína

Alantoína is a rare, hydrated aluminum sulfate mineral with the chemical formula Al3(SO4)2(OH)6. It is named after the Alantos River in Greece, where it was first discovered. The mineral is typically found in association with other sulfate minerals, such as jarosite and alunogen, in hydrothermal veins and sedimentary deposits.

Alantoína crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system and forms prismatic crystals that can be transparent to opaque. It has a hardness of approximately 3.5 on the Mohs scale and a specific gravity of about 2.8. The mineral is typically white or colorless, but it can also occur in shades of yellow, green, or brown due to impurities.

The primary use of alantoína is in the production of aluminum sulfate, which is used in various industrial applications, including water treatment, paper manufacturing, and as a flocculant in wastewater treatment. It is also used in the production of some types of cement and as a raw material in the aluminum industry.

Alantoína is not typically used as a gemstone due to its rarity and lack of aesthetic appeal. However, it is of interest to mineral collectors and scientists studying the geochemistry of sulfate minerals. The mineral is found in several locations around the world, including Greece, Italy, and the United States.