Cornallite

Carnallite (on behalf of the German geologist R. Karnall , R. von Carnall, 1804–74) is a mineral, a complex aqueous chloride of magnesium and potassium, composition KCI. MgCl2.6H2O. Minor impurities of Br, Li, Rb, Cs, as well as mechanical particles of clay minerals, hematite, aqueous iron oxides, etc. are common. It crystallizes in a rhombic system; usually forms granular aggregates mixed with halite , sylvin and other minerals of salt deposits. It is colorless or painted in dirty brown, red-pink and other colors due to the inclusion of impurities. Hygroscopic. K. is characterized by a burning bitter-salty taste. Hardness on a mineralogical scale of 2-3; density 1600 kg⁄m³. Is one of the main minerals in potash salt deposits (see. Potash salts ). The largest deposits in the Russian Federation are Solikamskoye in the Urals, Perm Territory , abroad - in Germany ( Stasfurt , Aschersleben and others), USA, Tunisia.