Sulfate crust
Encyclopedia
Suasdlsdjety godovikovite
Godovikovite
Godovikovite is a rare mineral of the chemical formula: Al2. Al can partially be substituted by Fe. Hydratation of godovikovite gives the ammonium alum, tschermigite. The mineral forms cryptocrystalline, often porous, masses, usually of white colour. Single crystals are very small hexagonal blades....

 and millosevichite
Millosevichite
Millosevichite is a rare mineral with the chemical formula Al23. Aluminium is often substituted by iron. It forms white to yellowish cryptocrystalline, often porous, masses. The mineral is mainly known from burning coal dumps, acting as one of the main minerals forming sulfate crust. It can be also...

. The outer zone can easily be hydrated giving rise to minerals like tschermigite
Tschermigite
Tschermigite is a mineral form of ammonium alum, formula NH4AlSO4·12H2O. It is found in burning coal seams, bituminous shale and fumaroles. Because of its extreme water solubility it is unlikely to persist except in the dryest of conditions. Discovered in 1852 at Cermiky, also known as Schermig...

 and alunogen
Alunogen
Alunogen also called feather alum and hair salt is a colourless to white fibrous to needle-like aluminium sulfate mineral often found on the walls of mines and quarries as secondary mineral. It can be found in the oxidation zones of some ore deposits as well as on burning coal dumps Alunogen also...

. The zone forms due to interaction with hot (even around 600 °C) coal-derived gases (mainly NH3
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...

 and SO3
Sulfur trioxide
Sulfur trioxide is the chemical compound with the formula SO3. In the gaseous form, this species is a significant pollutant, being the primary agent in acid rain. It is prepared on massive scales as a precursor to sulfuric acid.-Structure and bonding:Gaseous SO3 is a trigonal planar molecule of...

) 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.
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