Kainite is a water-soluble evaporite mineral commonly found in massive, granular forms within marine salt deposits. Collectors primarily identify it by its salty taste, though it is hygroscopic and must be stored in a dry, sealed environment to prevent degradation.
Is this kainite?
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 kainite with a known reference. Kainite 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. Kainite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kainite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, yellow, red, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular, encrustations.
Often confused with
Kainite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside kainite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kainite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KMgCl(SO₄)·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 2.1-2.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular, Encrustations
- Cleavage
- Distinct in One Direction
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Fertilizer, Industrial
- Host rock
- Marine Evaporite Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-60 for small mineral specimens
Where rockhounds find kainite
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Stassfurt, Germany
- Kalush, Ukraine
- Sicily, Italy
- Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in marine evaporite deposits country — that is the host setting where kainite typically forms. If you start seeing halite, sylvite, carnallite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular, encrustations habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Nevada, Utah — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find kainite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
