Sulfate crust

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Sulfate crust is a zone observed in the axial (central) parts of burning coal dumps and related sites. It is a zone built mainly by anhydrous sulfate minerals, such as godovikovite and millosevichite. The outer zone can easily be hydrated giving rise to minerals like tschermigite and alunogen. The zone forms due to interaction with hot (even around 600 °C) coal-derived gases (mainly NH3 and SO3) with the "sterile" material (i.e. shales and other rocks serving as the source of Al3+, Fe3+, Ca2+ and other cations) in case of the lack of vents for the gases to escape into the atmosphere. [1] [2] [3]

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4
)
2
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2
O
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4
)
2
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2
O
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Xitieshanite is a hydrous iron sulfate–chloride mineral with chemical formula: Fe3+(SO4)Cl·6(H2O).

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A sulfite sulfate is a chemical compound that contains both sulfite and sulfate anions [SO3]2− [SO4]2−. These compounds were discovered in the 1980s as calcium and rare earth element salts. Minerals in this class were later discovered. Minerals may have sulfite as an essential component, or have it substituted for another anion as in alloriite. The related ions [O3SOSO2]2− and [(O2SO)2SO2]2− may be produced in a reaction between sulfur dioxide and sulfate and exist in the solid form as tetramethyl ammonium salts. They have a significant partial pressure of sulfur dioxide.

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Fumarole minerals are minerals which are deposited by fumarole exhalations. They form when gases and compounds desublimate or precipitate out of condensates, forming mineral deposits. They are mostly associated with volcanoes following deposition from volcanic gas during an eruption or discharge from a volcanic vent or fumarole, but have been encountered on burning coal deposits as well. They can be black or multicoloured and are often unstable upon exposure to the atmosphere.

References

  1. Srebrodolskiy B. I. 1989: Tainy Sezonnykh Mineralov. Nauka, Moscow
  2. Jambor J. L. and Grew E. S. 1991: New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 76, pp. 299-305
  3. Sokol E. V., Maksimova N. V., Nigmatulina E. N., Sharygin V. V. and Kalugin V. M. 2005: Combustion metamorphism. Publishing House of the SB RAS, Novosibirsk