| Niter | |
|---|---|
.jpg) A piece of niter collected in Tarapaca, Chile | |
| General | |
| Category | Nitrates, oxide mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | KNO3 |
| IMA symbol | Nit[1] |
| Strunz classification | 5.NA.10 |
| Dana classification | 18.1.2.1 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Crystal class | Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Space group | Cmc21 |
| Identification | |
| Color | White |
| Crystal habit | Druse or acicular |
| Cleavage | Very good on {001}; good on {010} |
| Fracture | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 2.10 (calc.) |
| Solubility | Soluble |
| References | [2][3][4] |
Niter or nitre[5] is the mineral form of potassium nitrate, KNO3. It is a soft, white, highly soluble mineral found primarily in arid climates or cave deposits.
Historically, the term niter was not well differentiated from natron, both of which have been very vaguely defined but generally refer to compounds of sodium or potassium joined with carbonate or nitrate ions.
- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ "Niter Mineral Data". www.webmineral.com.
- ^ "Niter: Mineral information, data and localities". www.mindat.org.
- ^ Adiwidjaja, G.; Pohl, D. (2003), "Superstructure of α-phase potassium nitrate", Acta Crystallogr. C, 59 (12): 1139–40, Bibcode:2003AcCrC..59I.139A, doi:10.1107/S0108270103025277, PMID 14671340.
- ^ "Definition of nitre". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved March 11, 2016.