Mineral Factbook

Sylvite

KClIMA symbol: Sylgrandfathered

Sylvite is a halide mineral with the formula KCl, crystallizing in the cubic system. It has a Mohs hardness of 2, typically colorless, white, red or yellow in color, with a vitreous luster, a specific gravity of 1.97-1.99. Its streak is white.

Photos

Sylvite specimen photo
Beatrice Murch from Buenos Aires, Argentina · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Sylvite specimen photo
Friedrich Rinne · Public domain · Commons
Sylvite specimen photo
Boris Lobastov · CC BY 4.0 · Commons
Sylvite specimen photo
Darla Sondrol · CC0 · Commons

Crystallography

Crystal systemcubic crystal systemWikidata (CC0)
Space groupF m -3 m
Cell (Å, °)a = 6.2879, b = 6.2879, c = 6.2879; α = 90, β = 90, γ = 90
Cell volume248.609 ų, Z = 4
Axial ratios1.0000:1:1.0000calculated from COD 9003112
Source structureCOD 9003112 (American Mineralogist, 2004) — 1 of 31 structures

Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)

2θ (degrees, Cu Kα1)I/I₀ (max 100)
d (Å)3.1442.2231.4061.8151.2841.572
I/I₀10067.426.122.218.89.8

xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9003112; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.

Physical properties

Density (calculated)1.992 g/cm³calculated from COD 9003112
Hardness (Mohs)
2single sourceWikidata (CC0)
2single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Specific gravity
1.97-1.99 g/cm3corroboratedDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Color
colorless, red, white, yellowsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Streak
whitesingle sourceWikidata (CC0)
Luster
vitreoussingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)

Chemistry (calculated)

Molecular weight74.55 g/molcalculated from the IMA formula
Composition (wt%)K 52.44%, Cl 47.56%

Classification

Nickel-Strunz (10th)3.AA.20Wikidata (CC0)
Nickel-Strunz (9th)3.AA.20Wikidata (CC0)