Mineral Information

Origin: Notably California & Arizona, U.S.A.

Mineral Species: Calcite / Glauberite

Mineral Group: Carbonates / Sulphates

Chemical Formula: CaCO3 / Na2Ca(SO4)2

Hardness: 2.5-3

Crystal System: Rhombohedral / Monoclinic

Colour: White, grey, buff or pale green / yellow

Typical Appearance: Bipyramidal tabular crystals often as doubly-terminated blades or in flower-like clusters.

Esoteric Information

Birthstone: No known astrological sign

Chakra Alignment: Not known

Element: Not known

Origin of Name & Mythology: Named in 1808 by Brongniart for its chemical similarity to Glauber's salt, Na2SO4·10H2O, discovered by German alchemist Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604-1668).

Additional Information

Glauberite is a fairly rare mineral because it tends to be unstable. It forms in clay and/or evaporate deposits such as dry lake beds in desert environments. It is both highly soluble and efflorescent, meaning that as glauberite crystals dissolve or crumble, they may be altered or replaced by more stable minerals such as gypsum or calcite that take the form of the original glauberite crystals. These are known as Pseudomorphs.