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, 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.
