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Langbeinite
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<p>Langbeinite is a <a href="/facts/Potassium/FWPwS7Rj">potassium</a> <a href="/facts/Magnesium/XyIhd2FG">magnesium</a> <a href="/facts/Sulfate/yuWVxsUf">sulfate</a> <a href="/facts/Mineral/LkUFbNmv">mineral</a> with the chemical formula K2Mg2(SO4)3. Langbeinite crystallizes in the <a href="/facts/Cubic_(crystal_system)/92Co7BKM">isometric</a>-tetartoidal (cubic) system as transparent colorless or white with pale tints of yellow to green and violet crystalline masses. It has a vitreous <a href="/facts/Lustre_(mineralogy)/TCobwMGC">luster</a>. The <a href="/facts/Mohs_hardness/wXBMcVIm">Mohs hardness</a> is 3.5 to 4 and the <a href="/facts/Specific_gravity/ySquGd2x">specific gravity</a> is 2.83. The crystals are <a href="/facts/Piezoelectric/65k6BDqx">piezoelectric</a>. </p><p>The mineral is an <a href="/facts/Ore/kgc9DssX">ore</a> of potassium and occurs in marine <a href="/facts/Evaporite/vNW8fcEy">evaporite</a> deposits in association with <a href="/facts/Carnallite/N7RQQwRd">carnallite</a>, <a href="/facts/Halite/9xEEKKT8">halite</a>, and <a href="/facts/Sylvite/1q1ym0bQ">sylvite</a>. </p><p>It was first described in 1891 for an occurrence in Wilhelmshall, <a href="/facts/Halberstadt/9sUMVaRQ">Halberstadt</a>, <a href="/facts/Saxony-Anhalt/XWDDbRvA">Saxony-Anhalt</a>, <a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX">Germany</a>, and named for A. Langbein of Leopoldshall, Germany. </p><p>Langbeinite gives its name to the <a href="/facts/Langbeinites/VQmscK8B">langbeinites</a>, a family of substances with the same cubic structure, a tetrahedral anion, and large and small cations. </p><p>Related substances include hydrated salts <a href="/facts/Leonite/sR6hQ1Hz">leonite</a> (K2Mg(SO4)2·4H2O) and <a href="/facts/Picromerite/TeWN9rJd">picromerite</a> (K2Mg(SO4)2·6H2O). </p>