What is mineral jarosite?
Jarosite is a family of iron-hydroxysulphate minerals that commonly occur in acidic, sulfate-rich environments, and mining and ore processing wastes.
Where is jarosite mineral found?
Antarctica
Jarosite has been found in the ice cores that were extracted from Antarctica by a team of international researchers recently.
What is jarosite process?
Jarosite Production: The roast-leach-electrowin process for zinc production involves roasting zinc sulphide concentrate to produce calcine containing zinc oxide. The resultant leach liquor contains up to 30 g/L of iron, which is subsequently precipitated by hydrolysis as ammonium jarosite [NH4Fe3(SO4)2OH6].
What is the chemical formula for jarosite?
Jarosite
| PubChem CID | 129628182 |
|---|---|
| Molecular Formula | Fe3H12KO14S2-3 |
| Synonyms | Jarosite |
| Molecular Weight | 506.9 |
| Component Compounds | CID 5462222 (Potassium) CID 1118 (Sulfuric acid) CID 23925 (Fe) CID 962 (Water) |
Is jarosite a quartz?
This sulfate mineral is formed in ore deposits by the oxidation of iron sulfides….
| Jarosite | |
|---|---|
| Jarosite on quartz from the Arabia District, Pershing County, Nevada | |
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate minerals |
| Formula (repeating unit) | KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
Is jarosite a mineral?
Mineral Description Jarosite is a potassium iron sulfate mineral of composition KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 usually derived from the oxidation of pyrite and other Fe-bearing sulfides. Sulfide oxidation produces sulfate plus hydronium ions during the hydrolysis of water.
What kind of crystals are found in jarosite?
Usually found as amber-yellow to brown crusts or coatings of minute crystals, larger crystals rather rare. Desborough et al. (2010) showed there is only limited solid solution between jarosite and natrojarosite at low temperatures. Synthetic samples may be monoclinic-pseudorhombohedral (Grey et al., 2010, 2013).
What is the formula for alunite and jarosite?
The alunite supergroup minerals are isostructural with each other and substitution between them occurs, resulting in several solid solution series. The alunite supergroup has the general formula AB 3 (TO 4) 2 (OH) 6. In the alunite subgroup B is Al, and in the jarosite subgroup B is Fe 3+.
Where are jarosite deposits most likely to be found?
Environments in which jarosite group minerals commonly form as secondary minerals include the oxidized zones (gossans) of sulfide ore deposits, areas of acid mine drainage, and acidic soils. In supergene enrichment zones of sulfide-bearing ore deposits, silver-bearing jarosite deposits can be an economically important mineral source of silver.
How can you tell the difference between jarosite and limonite?
Jarosite’s crystal forms combined with its color easily identify it. However, poorly crystallized examples and massive forms of Jarosite may be difficult to distinguish from other minerals, such as Limonite. Jarosite is also indistinguishable from its isomorphous mineral Natrojarosite by ordinary methods.