Rinneite is a rare potassium-sodium-iron chloride mineral typically found in marine evaporite deposits. It is highly deliquescent and unstable in humid environments, often requiring airtight storage to prevent breakdown into its constituent salts. Collectors prize it for its unique chemical composition and association with other complex evaporite species.
Is this rinneite?
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 rinneite with a known reference. Rinneite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine, commonly silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, rose red, violet, brown, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Rinneite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine, commonly silky on Rinneite and vitreous on Halite.
How to tell apart: Rinneite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3 vs. 2); luster reads adamantine, commonly silky on Rinneite and vitreous on Sylvite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine, commonly silky on Rinneite and greasy, shining on Carnallite.
Often found alongside rinneite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rinneite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₃NaFeCl₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.347 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine, commonly silky
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- {1120}, good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in marine saline evaporite deposits; as a volcanic sublimate
Where rockhounds find rinneite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lower Saxony, at Wolkramshausen, near Nordhausen, Germany
- Mines around Diekholzen and Salzdetfurth, near Hildesheim, Germany
- Wathlingen-Hiinigsen, near CelIe, Germany
- Vesuvius, Campania, Italy
- Aislaby, Eskdale, Yorkshire, England
- Gaudark salt deposit, Gissar Mountains, Uzbekistan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in marine saline evaporite deposits; as a volcanic sublimate. If you start seeing halite, sylvite, kieserite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find rinneite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
