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Formula: KAl(SO4)2
Anhydrous sulphate
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 2.792 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless
Luminescence: Nonfluorescent under UV
Environments
Steklite originally was found on a burnt coal dump, so it was considered to be anthropogenic and
therefore not a true mineral. In 2011 it was found as a natural occurrence and approved as a proper mineral
(Mindat).
Localities
At the type locality, the Yadovitaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption,
Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Krai, Russia, steklite occurs in a volcanic sublimate formed at 150°C to 170°C as
part of sulphate crusts around an active fumarole. Associated minerals include
alumoklyuchevskite,
langbeinite, euchlorine,
fedotovite, chalcocyanite,
hematite, kamchatkite,
atlasovite, melanothallite,
tenorite, avdoninite,
belloite, ziesite and
lyonsite
(HOM).
The steklite forms hexagonal plates and more frequently multi-angular irregular lamellae. They both are
commonly 5 to 10 µm and occasionally up to 30 µm in thickness, and 0.2 mm and rarely up to 1 mm across
(Mindat).
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