General Information:
Chemical Formula:
NaNO3
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 84.99 gm)
Sodium 27.05 % Na
Nitrogen 16.48 % N
Oxygen 56.47 % O
Empirical Formula:
Na(NO3)
Environment:
Residual water-soluble surface deposits in extremely arid deserts. Nitrates occur in clay rich caliche deposits replenished by occasional desert thunderstorms which fix N2 from the air.
Locality:
Confidence Hills, southern Death Valley. Atacam desert, Chile.
Name Origin:
Named after its composition of containing nitrates.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
[???] Perfect
Color:
colorless, white, gray, yellowish, or brownish.
Density:
2.24 - 2.29, Average = 2.26
Diaphaniety:
Transparent
Habits:
Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses., Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.,
Hardness:
1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum
Luminescence:
None.
Luster:
Vitreous (Glassy)
Streak:
white
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