Galeite is a rare sodium sulfate-fluoride-chloride mineral primarily found in the alkaline complex of Mont Saint-Hilaire. It is typically identified as small, glassy, tabular crystals often associated with other rare sulfate minerals. Due to its extreme solubility and rarity, it is sought after primarily by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this galeite?
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 galeite with a known reference. Galeite sits at Mohs 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.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Galeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside galeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with galeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₁₅(SO₄)₅F₄Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.605 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a playa lake deposit
Where rockhounds find galeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a playa lake deposit. If you start seeing schairerite, gaylussite, northupite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify galeite?+
Where is galeite found?+
What rocks look like galeite?+
What minerals are found with galeite?+
What kind of rock does galeite form in?+
What is galeite used for?+
Find galeite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
