Formula: KCl
Chloride, halite group
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 1.993 measured, 1.987 calculated
Hardness: 1½ to 2
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, grey, white, yellowish to reddish, seldom blue or violet
Common impurities: Br,CO2=C,O
Environments:
Evaporite Deposits
Volcanic sublimates
Coal-seam fires
Sylvite occurs in sedimentary basins, forming thick bedded deposits with
halite, also as a sublimate in volcanic fumaroles, in which it is a predominant
precipitate at 550°C; it occurs in nitrate beds and in cave deposits; it is also a product of burning coal, and it may
be included in other minerals as a product of intermediate-grade metamorphism. Associated minerals include
halite, kieserite,
kainite, carnallite,
polyhalite, gypsum and
anhydrite
HOM, (Mindat).
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