Nitrate minerals

chemical compound

chemical compound

chemical compound

Niter or nitre is the mineral form of potassium nitrate, KNO3. It is a soft, white, highly soluble mineral found primarily in arid climates or cave deposits.

Nitratine or nitratite, also known as cubic niter (UK: nitre), soda niter or Chile saltpeter (UK: Chile saltpetre), is a mineral, the naturally occurring form of sodium nitrate, NaNO3. Chemically it is the sodium analogue of saltpeter. Nitratine crystallizes in the trigonal system, but rarely occurs as well-formed crystals. It is isostructural with calcite. It is relatively soft and light with a Mohs hardness of 1.5 to 2 and a specific gravity of 2.24 to 2.29. Its refractive indices are nω = 1.587 and nε = 1.336.

Gwihabaite is a rare ammonium potassium nitrate mineral (NH4,K)(NO3). It is orthorhombic in form, colorless with a vitreous luster. It has a Mohs hardness of 5 and a specific gravity of 1.77. It is deliquescent and water-soluble. The mineral is also known as nitrammite. It was first described in 1996 for an occurrence in Gcwihaba Caves (Drotsky's Cavern, type locality), Maun, North-West District, Botswana. The spelling of the name was simplified, omitting the "c", which represents the "click" sound used by the San people. It occurs as incrustations and efflorescences on cave surfaces formed by

Lislkirchnerite is a rare nitrate mineral with the formula Pb6Al(OH)8Cl2(NO3)5•2H2O. It was discovered in Nueva Esperanza No. 1 mine within the Capillitas deposit, Catamarca, Argentina.