Misenite is an extremely rare potassium hydrogen sulfate mineral found primarily in volcanic fumaroles. It typically appears as thin crusts or delicate, needle-like crystalline aggregates that are highly sensitive to moisture and must be stored in a dry environment.
Is this misenite?
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 misenite with a known reference. Misenite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Misenite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Misenite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crusts, aggregates of fine needles.
Often confused with
Misenite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside misenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with misenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₈(SO₄)₄(HSO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.64 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, Aggregates of Fine Needles
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Fumarolic Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find misenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Vesuvius, Italy
- La Fossa crater, Vulcano, Italy
- Pozzuoli, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in fumarolic deposits country — that is the host setting where misenite typically forms. If you start seeing gypsum, sulphur, aphthitalite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a crusts, aggregates of fine needles habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find misenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
