| Kainite | |
|---|---|
Kainite |
|
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate minerals |
| Chemical formula | KMg[Cl|SO4]·3H2O |
| Strunz classification | 07.DF.10 |
| Identification | |
| Color | colourless; yellow, brownish, greyish-green, red, violet, blue |
| Crystal system | monoclinic |
| Cleavage | {001}, perfect |
| Fracture | splintery |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2½-3 |
| Luster | vitreous |
| Streak | white |
| Diaphaneity | transparent |
| Specific gravity | 2.15 |
Kainite (MgSO4·KCl·3H2O) is a mineral salt that consists of potassium chloride and magnesium sulfate and is used as a fertilizer. This mineral is dull and soft, is colored white through yellow to red and is found in the Stassfurt salt mines in Saxony, Germany. It is a natural salt occurring in irregular granular masses, and is used as a source of potassium and magnesium compounds.