Reviews
5.4" Carved Red Alunite Turtle - Tushar Range, Utah
This is a unique polished turtle sculpture carved from a large piece of alunite. This turtle measures 5.4 inches long and its glossy polish really brings out the crystal details and beautiful red-orange coloration of the mineral. The alunite was collected from the Tushar Range of Utah.
Alunite is a hydrated aluminum potassium sulfate mineral found in volcanic rocks, such as rhyolites, andesites, and trachytes. It is formed when these rocks react chemically with sulfurous vapors during the oxidation and leaching of metal sulfide deposits. It was first observed in the 15th century at Tolfa, near Rome, where it was mined for the manufacture of alum.
Chemical formula: KAl₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
Chemical formula: KAl₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
