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Formula: K3Tl3+Cl6.2H2O
Halide, thallium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 3.01 calculated
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, white, pale cream, pale beige
Environments
Kalithallite was approved in 2017 and to date (May 2023) has been reported only from the type locality.
Localities
At the type locality, the Northern fumarole field, First scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption,
Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia, kalithallite was found in an active
fumarole. It is a product of the relatively low-temperature (70°C to 150°C) interactions involving high-temperature
sublimate minerals, volcanic gas and atmospheric water vapour. The associated minerals are
cryobostryxite, halite,
sylvite, opal and
gypsum. Kalithallite forms lamellar to tabular crystals up to
5 × 30 × 40 μm3 combined in open-work aggregates up to 1 mm across. It is transparent, colourless in
individuals and white to pale cream coloured or pale beige in aggregates, with a vitreous lustre
(MM 87.2.186-193).
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