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Formula: K(NO3)
Normal nitrate
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 2.11 calculated
Hardness: 2
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless or white, light yellow, very light gray
Solubility: Readily soluble in water
Common impurities: Na,Li
*DETONATES* with combustible substances
Environments
Niter occurs in some caves, typically formed by bacterial action on animal matter, such as bat guano,
also formed from vegetable
matter, such as humus, exposed to seeping groundwater, especially after rain in hot weather; it forms
an efflorescence on soils or cliff
faces in arid regions. Associated minerals include nitratine,
nitrocalcite,
nitromagnesite,
epsomite, gypsum and
calcite
(HOM, Mindat).
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