White massive konyaite from Cakmak, Great Konya Basin, Konya Province, Turkey. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Konyaite
Konyaite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfate class, with the chemical formula Na₂Mg(SO₄)₂·5H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c). It is a member of the Picromerite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5; specific gravity 2.088; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Kny, IMA status: approved, named in 1981.
Widespread in salt efflorescences on saline soils, formed between 30 ° C and 50 ° C by evaporation of ground and surface waters.
It is found associated with Gypsum, hexahydrite, blödite, halite, starkeyite, löweite, mirabalite, thénardite, epsomite, burkeite, tychite.
The name refers to its occurrence in the Great Konya Basin, Turkey.