Ore Sylvite On White Background. Royalty-Free Stock Image

Sylvite, or sylvine, is potassium chloride KCl in natural mineral form. It forms crystals in the isometric system very similar to normal rock salt, halite NaCl. The two are, in fact, isomorphous. Sylvite is colorless to white with shades of yellow and red due to inclusions. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and a specific gravity of 1.99. It has a refractive index of 1.4903 Sylvite has a salty taste with a distinct bitterness. Sylvite is one of the last evaporite minerals to precipitate out of solution. As such, it is only found in very dry saline areas. Its principal use is as a potassium fertilizer.