Löweite is a rare sodium-magnesium sulfate mineral found primarily in marine salt deposits. It typically forms as colorless to yellowish tabular crystals or massive aggregates within evaporite sequences.

Hardness

2.5-3

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrare

Löweite

Hardness: 2.5-3
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

Is this löweite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch löweite with a known reference. Löweite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, gray, pale yellow, reddish yellow.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.

Often confused with

Löweite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside löweite

Minerals reported to co-occur with löweite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Na₁₂Mg₇(SO₄)₁₃·15H₂O
Mohs hardness: 2.5-3
Density: 2.36-2.42 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless Gray Pale yellow Reddish yellow
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals, massive, granular
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: An uncommon mineral in marine salt deposits; in efflorescences and crusts in saline playa deposits; a volcanic sublimation product

Where rockhounds find löweite

Classic worldwide localities

Carlsbad potash district, Eddy Co., New Mexico, USA
Northwest of Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado, USA
Ischl, Hallstatt, and Hall, Austria
Stassfurt-Aschersleben-Bernburg potash district, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Merkers, Thuringia, Germany
Hattorf, near Philippsthal, and at Neuhof-Ellers, Hesse, Germany

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: An uncommon mineral in marine salt deposits; in efflorescences and crusts in saline playa deposits; a volcanic sublimation product. If you start seeing anhydrite, gypsum, vanthoffite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify löweite?+

Mohs hardness is 2.5-3. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, gray, pale yellow, reddish yellow.

Where is löweite found?+

Notable localities include Carlsbad potash district, Eddy Co., New Mexico, USA; Northwest of Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado, USA; Ischl, Hallstatt, and Hall, Austria; Stassfurt-Aschersleben-Bernburg potash district, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany; Merkers, Thuringia, Germany.

What rocks look like löweite?+

Löweite is most often confused with Bloedite, Vanthoffite, Thénardite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with löweite?+

Löweite commonly co-occurs with Anhydrite, Gypsum, Vanthoffite, Blödite, Langbeinite, Aphthitalite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does löweite form in?+

Where it forms: An uncommon mineral in marine salt deposits; in efflorescences and crusts in saline playa deposits; a volcanic sublimation product. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is löweite used for?+

Löweite is used in collector.

Find löweite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.