Niter

Niter
Niter
	A piece of niter collected in Tarapaca, Chile
General
Category	Nitrates, oxide mineral
Formula	KNO3
IMA symbol	Nit
Strunz classification	5.NA.10
Dana classification	18.1.2.1
Crystal system	Orthorhombic
Crystal class	Dipyramidal (mmm) ; H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space group	Cmc21
Identification
Color	White
Crystal habit	Druse or acicular
Cleavage	Very good on {001}; good on {010}
Fracture	Brittle
Mohs scale hardness	2
Luster	Vitreous
Streak	White
Diaphaneity	Transparent
Specific gravity	2.10 (calc.)
Solubility	Soluble
References

Niter or nitre^[5] is the mineral form of potassium nitrate, KNO₃. It is a soft, white, highly soluble mineral found primarily in arid climates or cave deposits.

Potassium and other nitrates are of great importance for use in fertilizers and, historically, gunpowder. Much of the world's demand is now met by synthetically produced nitrates, though the natural mineral is still mined and is still of significant commercial value.^[6]^[7]

Historically, the term niter was not well differentiated from natron, both of which have been very vaguely defined but generally refer to compounds of sodium or potassium joined with carbonate or nitrate ions.

^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
^ "Niter Mineral Data". www.webmineral.com.
^ "Niter: Mineral information, data and localities". www.mindat.org.
^ Adiwidjaja, G.; Pohl, D. (2003), "Superstructure of α-phase potassium nitrate", Acta Crystallogr. C, 59 (12): 1139–40, Bibcode:2003AcCrC..59I.139A, doi:10.1107/S0108270103025277, PMID 14671340.
^ "Definition of nitre". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
^ Barnum, Dennis W. (December 2003). "Some History of Nitrates". Journal of Chemical Education. 80 (12): 1393. Bibcode:2003JChEd..80.1393B. doi:10.1021/ed080p1393.
^ Burkhardt, John J.; Heath, Garvin A.; Turchi, Craig S. (March 15, 2011). "Life Cycle Assessment of a Parabolic Trough Concentrating Solar Power Plant and the Impacts of Key Design Alternatives". Environmental Science & Technology. 45 (6): 2457–2464. Bibcode:2011EnST...45.2457B. doi:10.1021/es1033266. PMID 21391722.

[1] Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.

[2] "Niter Mineral Data". www.webmineral.com.

[3] "Niter: Mineral information, data and localities". www.mindat.org.

[4] Adiwidjaja, G.; Pohl, D. (2003), "Superstructure of α-phase potassium nitrate", Acta Crystallogr. C, 59 (12): 1139–40, Bibcode:2003AcCrC..59I.139A, doi:10.1107/S0108270103025277, PMID 14671340.

[5] "Definition of nitre". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved March 11, 2016.

[6] Barnum, Dennis W. (December 2003). "Some History of Nitrates". Journal of Chemical Education. 80 (12): 1393. Bibcode:2003JChEd..80.1393B. doi:10.1021/ed080p1393.

[7] Burkhardt, John J.; Heath, Garvin A.; Turchi, Craig S. (March 15, 2011). "Life Cycle Assessment of a Parabolic Trough Concentrating Solar Power Plant and the Impacts of Key Design Alternatives". Environmental Science & Technology. 45 (6): 2457–2464. Bibcode:2011EnST...45.2457B. doi:10.1021/es1033266. PMID 21391722.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]