Epsomite
Mineral MgSO4·7H2O
Also called Epsom salt
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
Natural Epsom salt, seen as fibrous crusts and hair-like growths on cave and mine walls. Dissolves easily and loses water in dry air; named for Epsom in England.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Sulfate, epsomite group
- Formula
- MgSO4·7H2O
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2–2.5
- Specific gravity
- 1.67–1.68
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), silky, earthy
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Colours
- colourless, white, pale pink, greenish
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect in one direction; conchoidal fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.