Nitratine
ID: 87
Nitratine
Chemical Formula
NaNO₃
Hardness (Mohs)
1.5 - 2
Crystal System
Trigonal
Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous
Diaphaneity
Transparent to translucent
Color
White, gray, red-brown, yellow
Crystal Habit / Mode of Occurrence
Commonly massive, granular, or as encrustations. Crystals are rhombohedral but often indistinct.
Density
2.2 - 2.3 g/cm³
Fun Facts
Nitratine, also called soda niter, played a crucial role in agriculture and explosives before synthetic nitrates became common. Early farmers observed that plants flourished where it was discarded.