Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society
GEM-O-RAMA
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Physical Characteristics of Searles Lake Minerals

Soluble Saline Minerals of Searles Lake

MINERAL COMPOSITION COLOR STREAK HARDNESS LUSTER TASTE SPEC. GRAV. CRYSTAL FORM
Borax Na2B4O7*10H2O Colorless to white White 2 to 2.5 Vitreous, resinous Sweetly alkaline 1.715 Monoclinic, prismatic, some faces striated
Burkeite Na2CO3*2Na2SO4 White, yellow or gray White 3.5 Vitreous to greasy Alkaline 2.57 Orthorhombic, commonly as irregular warty masses
Glaserite 3K2SO4*Na2SO4 Amber, colorless or white White   Vitreous Faintly saline 2.7 Orthorhombic, dipyramidal
Halite NaCl Colorless or white White 2 to 2.5 Vitreous Saline 2.1 to 2.3 Isometric, cubic or octahedral
Hanksite 9Na2SO4*2Na2CO3*KCl Amber or colorless White 3 to 3.5 Vitreous to dull Saline 2.56 Hexagonal, dipyramidal
Nahcolite NaHCO3 Colorless or white White 2.5 Vitreous Weakly alkaline 2.2 Monoclinic, prismatic
Sulfohalite 2Na2SO4*NaCl*NaF Colorless, yellow or gray   3.5 Vitreous to greasy Weakly saline 2.5 Isometric, hexoctagonal
Thenardite Na2SO4 Colorless, white or gray   2.5 to 3 Vitreous Faintly saline 2.7 Orthorhombic, dipyramidal
Trona Na2CO3*NaHCO3*2H2O Colorless or white   2.5 to 3 Vitreous, glistening Alkaline 2.14 Monoclinic, prismatic, often striated

Insoluble Mud Minerals of Searles Lake

MINERAL COMPOSITION COLOR STREAK HARDNESS LUSTER SPEC. GRAV. CRYSTAL FORM
Aragonite CaCO3         2.947 Rhombohedral
Calcite CaCO3         2.711 Hexagonal
Dolomite CaCO3*MgCO3         2.8 to 2.99 Hexagonal
Gaylusite CaCO3*Na2CO3*5H2O Colorless, white or gray White   Vitreous 1.99 Monoclinic, prismatic, often elongated or a flattened wedge-shape
Pirssonite CaCO3*Na2CO3*2H2O Colorless, white  White 3 to 3.5 Vitreous 2.36 Orthorhombic, rhombic-pyramidal
Northupite MgCO3*Na2CO3*NaCl Colorless, yellow or gray White 3.5 to 4 Vitreous 2.4 Isometric, diploidal, octahedral
Tychite 2MgCO3*2Na2CO3*Na2SO4 White White 3.5 to 4 Vitreous 2.6 Isometric, diploidal, octahedral
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Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society
P. O. Box 966
Trona, CA 93592-0966
Phone (760) 372-5356

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