The colorless platelets of steklite on a sintered rock from the burnt dump of the Mine No. 47, Kopeisk, South Urals. The image is published in an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). — Photo: Zolotarev, Andrey A. and Krivovichev, Sergey V. and Avdontceva, Margarita S. and Shilovskikh, Vladimir V. and Rassomakhin, Mikhail A. and Yapaskurt, Vasiliy O. and Pekov, Igor V. · CC BY 4.0
Steklite
Steklite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfate class, with the chemical formula KAl(SO₄)₂.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P321). It is a member of the Sabieite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5; specific gravity 2.797; White streak; Vitreous luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Sek, IMA status: approved, named in 2011.
A volcanic sublimate formed at 150-170 flC as part of sulfate crusts around an active fumarole. Also described as a sublimate near burning coal deposits.
It is found associated with Alumoklyuchevskite, langbeinite, euchlorine, fedotovite, chalcocyanite, hematite, kamchatkite, atlasovite, melanothallite, tenorite, avdoninite, belloite.
The name comes from the Russian word стекло (steklo) for glass as an allusion to the visual appearance of aggregates of the mineral formed around vents of a burning coal heap (coal mine N 47 near Kope.