Nitrite is a rare, naturally occurring sodium nitrite mineral found exclusively in hyper-arid environments like the Atacama Desert. It is highly deliquescent and can dissolve into a liquid if exposed to moisture, making it a challenging mineral for collectors to preserve. It typically presents as a thin, white-to-yellowish efflorescent crust on other desert salts.
Is this nitrite?
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 nitrite with a known reference. Nitrite sits at Mohs 1.5-2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nitrite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nitrite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, encrustations, efflorescent.
Often confused with
Nitrite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside nitrite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nitrite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaNO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 2.17 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Encrustations, Efflorescent
- Cleavage
- Distinct in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Study
- Host rock
- Extremely Arid Evaporite Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find nitrite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Atacama Desert, Chile
- Peru
- Egypt
Field-hunting tip
Look in extremely arid evaporite deposits country — that is the host setting where nitrite typically forms. If you start seeing nitratine, halite, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, encrustations, efflorescent habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find nitrite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
