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, 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.
