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 — that is 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.
