Bischofite
Mineral MgCl2·6H2O
Take care.
- Damaged by water: Keep it dry: don't wash it, and keep it out of damp places.
- Breaks down in damp air: Keep it dry and in steady humidity; some crumble or rot as they take on moisture.
About it
Colourless, bitter magnesium chloride that soaks up moisture from the air and turns to liquid, so it must be sealed. Found in potash and salt deposits; named for Gustav Bischof.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Halide
- Formula
- MgCl2·6H2O
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 1–2
- Specific gravity
- 1.56–1.6
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), greasy
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- colourless, white
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; conchoidal fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.