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 1.5-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Salammoniac leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Salammoniac typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, yellow, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: isometric. Typical habit: crusts, efflorescences, stalactites, granular masses.
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
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 1.52 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Isometric
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, Efflorescences, Stalactites, Granular Masses
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Volcanic Fumaroles
- Typical price
- $10-50 per small specimen
Where rockhounds find salammoniac
Classic worldwide localities
- Mount Vesuvius, Italy
- Etna, Sicily
- Parícutin, Mexico
- Kilauea, Hawaii
- Central Asia
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic fumaroles country, the host setting where salammoniac typically forms. If you start seeing sulfur, gypsum, realgar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a crusts, efflorescences, stalactites, granular masses habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find salammoniac on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
