A rare mineral composed of potassium sulfate and sodium sulfate, found in evaporitic deposits.
From Greek aphtha (blister, ulcer) + -ite (stone), possibly because the mineral's white crystals resemble small mouth ulcers, or due to its irritating properties.
Some geologists named minerals after diseases and painful conditions—so you've got sulfate minerals named after mouth ulcers, reminding us that even mineral collections can tell stories of ancient medical suffering!
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