How do I identify Alloriite?

Alloriite can be identified by its hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, Colourless to pale violet color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Alloriite?

Alloriite typically appears in Colourless to pale violet. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Alloriite?

Alloriite has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.

Alloriite

A variety of Minerals

What is Alloriite?

Alloriite is a silicate mineral that belongs to the cancrinite group, or more specifically the feldspathoid group. It is currently only found in Italy. It was discovered by and named for the Italian mineralogist Roberto Allori, an avid mineral collector who has also done research on piergorite and willhendersonite. The mineral appears as a crystal that is approximately 1.5 by 2mm in length. The crystal grows as both tabular and prismatic crystals, and commonly occurs with sanidine, biotite, andradite, and apatite. It was approved of being a mineral in 2006 by the International Mineralogical Association. Afghanite is a cancrinite group mineral that is very similar to alloriite in both its chemical composition and its physical properties.

Alloriite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Alloriite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Alloriite Localities Map

See where Alloriite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Composition of Alloriite

Alloriite is mainly composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3), its full chemical formula is Na5K1.5(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)(OH)0.5 * H2O. This means that alloriite needs to be formed with the addition of water, while still in a volcanic environment. This explains why this mineral is formed only within Mt. Cavalluccio, which is known to have explosive eruptions due to the water content within its magmatic composition. Alloriite's chemical composition was determined using an electron microprobe that measured the X-rays that were present in the sample after it was bombarded with an electron beam. Its water content was measured using the Penfield method, which only works on micro scaled samples. The carbon dioxide was determined using the contents on the ascarite sorbent, with selective sorption, held within a gaseous product. Then it was measured using the oxygen flux's glow to determine the composition.