Kalistrontite is a rare potassium-strontium sulfate primarily found in saline evaporite deposits. Collectors should look for its characteristic tabular crystal habit or white crusts, often associated with other salt minerals like halite and sylvite.
Is this kalistrontite?
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 kalistrontite with a known reference. Kalistrontite 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. Kalistrontite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kalistrontite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, crusts.
Often confused with
Kalistrontite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside kalistrontite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kalistrontite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₂Sr(SO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.83 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Evaporite Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-200 per specimen
Where rockhounds find kalistrontite
Classic worldwide localities
- Solikamsk, Russia
- Bernburg, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite deposits country — that is the host setting where kalistrontite typically forms. If you start seeing halite, sylvite, kieserite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kalistrontite?+
Where is kalistrontite found?+
How much is kalistrontite worth?+
What rocks look like kalistrontite?+
What minerals are found with kalistrontite?+
What kind of rock does kalistrontite form in?+
What is kalistrontite used for?+
Find kalistrontite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
