Bloedite is a hydrated sodium magnesium sulfate mineral that typically forms in evaporite deposits under arid conditions. Collectors look for its characteristic short, thick prismatic crystals, though it is often found in massive or granular aggregates that may be easily confused with other saline minerals.
Is this bloedite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch bloedite with a known reference. Bloedite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, yellow, greenish, reddish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: short prismatic crystals, granular, massive.
Often confused with
Bloedite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bloedite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bloedite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂Mg(SO₄)₂·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 2.35 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Short prismatic crystals, granular, massive
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific
- Host rock
- evaporite deposits
Where rockhounds find bloedite
4 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Stassfurt, Germany
- Searles Lake, California, USA
- Hallstatt, Austria
- Ischl, Austria
- Dakhla, Egypt
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: evaporite deposits. If you start seeing halite, glauberite, thenardite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: short prismatic crystals, granular, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah. Start trip planning there.
More bloedite photos
Common questions
How do you identify bloedite?+
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Can I find bloedite in the United States?+
What rocks look like bloedite?+
What minerals are found with bloedite?+
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Find bloedite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
