Salammoniac is a rare, water-soluble mineral typically found as white or yellowish crusts and efflorescences near volcanic fumaroles. It has a sharp, salty taste but should be handled with care as it is highly soluble and easily destroyed by humidity in storage. Collectors look for unique delicate, plume-like crystal growths around active volcanic vents.
Is this salammoniac?
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 salammoniac with a known reference. Salammoniac sits at Mohs 1-2, 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: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, grayish, yellow, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: encrustations.
Often confused with
Salammoniac vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside salammoniac
Minerals reported to co-occur with salammoniac. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NH₄Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 1-2
- Density
- 1.532 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations
- Cleavage
- {111}, imperfect
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- A sublimation product around volcanic fumaroles; in burning coal seams and waste piles; in guano deposits
Where rockhounds find salammoniac
Classic worldwide localities
- Kilauea, Hawaii, USA
- Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara Co., California, USA
- Fumarolic on: Vesuvius, Campania, Italy
- Etna, Sicily, Italy
- Stromboli and Vulcano, Lipari Islands, Italy
- Mount Pelée, Martinique, West Indies
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A sublimation product around volcanic fumaroles; in burning coal seams and waste piles; in guano deposits. If you start seeing sulfur, realgar, orpiment in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify salammoniac?+
Where is salammoniac found?+
What rocks look like salammoniac?+
What minerals are found with salammoniac?+
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Find salammoniac on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
