Kieserite is suitable for the production of compound fertilizer as well as for straight manual application.
Kieserite, or magnesium sulfate monohydrate, is a hydrous magnesium sulfate mineral with formula (MgSO4·H2O).
Kieserite has a vitreous luster and it is colorless, grayish-white or yellowish.
CAS Number: 14567-64-7
Molecular Formula: H4MgO5S+2
Molecular Weight: 140.39876
Synonyms: Wathlingite, RefChem:151232, 14567-64-7, Kieserite, Magnesiumsulfatemono-1];Magnesium sulfate hydrate (1:1:1);Kieserite (Mg(SO4).H2O);TIANFU-CHEM Kieserite;Wathlingite
Kieserites hardness is 3.5 and crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system.
Gunningite is the zinc member of the kieserite group of minerals.
Kieserite commonly occurs in marine evaporites and rarely in volcanic environments as a sublimate.
Kieserite occurs in association with halite, carnallite, polyhalite, anhydrite, boracite, sulfoborite, leonite, epsomite and celestine.
Kieserite is a naturally occurring mineral composed of magnesium sulfate monohydrate, with the chemical formula MgSO₄·H₂O.
It belongs to the sulfate mineral group and represents the monohydrated form of magnesium sulfate.
Kieserite typically forms in evaporite environments, where seawater or saline lake water undergoes intense evaporation, leading to the precipitation of sulfate salts.
It is commonly associated with other evaporite minerals such as halite, anhydrite, gypsum, and carnallite, and is found in sedimentary deposits.
In appearance, kieserite usually occurs as a colorless, white, grayish, or pale yellow crystalline solid.
Crystals are often tabular or granular, and the mineral may also appear in massive forms.
Kieserite is generally transparent to translucent and has a vitreous to dull luster.
From a physical standpoint, kieserite is harder and less soluble than other hydrated magnesium sulfates such as epsomite (MgSO₄·7H₂O).
Kieserites lower hydration state gives it greater thermal stability, but it can absorb water under humid conditions and transform into more highly hydrated magnesium sulfate minerals.
Chemically, kieserite consists of magnesium cations (Mg²⁺) and sulfate anions (SO₄²⁻) coordinated with one molecule of water.
Upon heating, it can lose its water of crystallization, while under moist conditions it may rehydrate.
Kieserite is an important industrial and agricultural mineral.
It is widely used as a magnesium and sulfur fertilizer, especially in soils deficient in magnesium, because it provides readily available nutrients for plant growth.
Kieserite is also used as a raw material in the chemical industry for the production of magnesium compounds and specialty fertilizers.
In addition, kieserite has gained scientific interest in planetary geology, as it has been identified on Mars, where its presence is considered evidence of past evaporative processes and the historical existence of liquid water.
Kieserite is a significant sulfate mineral with important roles in geology, agriculture, industry, and planetary science.
Kieserite is used in the agricultural industry as a source for both magnesium and sulphur.
Most commonly used in horticulture, one of its great benefits is that it is suitable for all types of crops and for use in any type of soil, regardless of pH level.
It is a fast-acting water soluble fertiliser and is the preferred choice for situations where magnesium is required urgently.
The sulphate form releases the magnesium over a four to six week period to the soil.
Kieserite a natural occurring mineral is also known as also known as magnesium sulphate monohydrate and is suitable for soil application to a wide range of horticultural and broad acre crops.
Kieserite is not suitable for fertigation or foliar application.
Kieserite is a naturally occurring sulfate mineral composed of magnesium sulfate monohydrate, with the chemical formula MgSO₄·H₂O.
Kieserite is the monohydrated form of magnesium sulfate and belongs to the sulfate mineral group.
Kieserite typically forms under evaporitic conditions, where saline waters such as seawater or brines undergo intense evaporation.
During this process, highly soluble salts crystallize sequentially, and kieserite precipitates at advanced stages of evaporation.
Kieserite commonly occurs together with other evaporite minerals including halite, anhydrite, gypsum, sylvite, and carnallite, and is mainly found in sedimentary evaporite deposits.
In terms of appearance, kieserite usually occurs as a colorless to white, grayish, or pale yellow crystalline solid.
Kieserites crystals are often tabular, prismatic, or granular, and it may also appear in massive or compact forms.
The mineral is generally transparent to translucent, with a vitreous to dull luster.
Physically, kieserite is harder and less water-soluble than more highly hydrated magnesium sulfate minerals such as epsomite (MgSO₄·7H₂O).
Because it contains only one molecule of water, it exhibits greater thermal stability, but under humid conditions it can absorb additional water and transform into more hydrated magnesium sulfate phases.
Chemically, kieserite consists of magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) bonded to sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻), with one molecule of crystallization water incorporated into the crystal lattice.
When heated, kieserite can lose this water molecule, while exposure to moisture may cause rehydration and phase transformation.
Kieserite has significant industrial and agricultural importance.
It is widely used as a magnesium- and sulfur-containing fertilizer, particularly in magnesium-deficient soils, as it supplies essential plant nutrients in a readily available form.
Compared to other magnesium fertilizers, kieserite is valued for its controlled solubility and low chloride content.
In industry, kieserite is used as a raw material for the production of magnesium compounds, specialty fertilizers, and chemical intermediates.
It is also studied in geological and geochemical research as an indicator of evaporitic environments.
Kieserite has additionally attracted attention in planetary science, as it has been detected on the surface of Mars.
Its presence is interpreted as evidence of past aqueous activity and evaporative processes, supporting theories about the historical existence of liquid water on the planet.
Kieserite is an important sulfate mineral with relevance in geology, agriculture, chemical industry, and planetary exploration, distinguished by its monohydrated structure, stability, and practical utility.
Uses:
Kieserite is used in the production of Epsom salt and as a fertilizer, the overall global annual usage in agriculture in the mid 1970s was 2.3 million tons.
Kieserite is also used for cleaning hard water deposits from tiles, stones, and other pool and fountain lining materials. Due to its hardness.
Kieserite is primarily used as a magnesium and sulfur fertilizer in agriculture, particularly for crops grown in magnesium-deficient soils.
Kieserite supplies magnesium in a readily plant-available form, which is essential for chlorophyll formation and photosynthesis, while sulfur supports protein synthesis and enzyme activity.
It is especially valued in chloride-sensitive crops because kieserite contains no chloride, making it suitable for crops such as potatoes, vegetables, fruits, and tobacco.
Due to its moderate solubility, it provides a controlled and sustained nutrient release, reducing nutrient losses through leaching.
In the chemical industry, kieserite is used as a raw material for the production of magnesium compounds and specialty magnesium fertilizers.
Kieserite serves as an intermediate in processes requiring magnesium sulfate with low water content and high purity.
Kieserite is also applied in soil conditioning and remediation, where it helps correct magnesium imbalance and improve soil structure in certain agricultural systems.
It may be blended with other mineral fertilizers to produce compound and mixed fertilizers tailored to specific crop requirements.
In geological and geochemical studies, kieserite is used as an indicator mineral for evaporitic environments, helping to reconstruct the conditions of ancient saline basins.
It is also of interest in planetary science, where its presence is studied to understand evaporative processes and past water activity on planetary surfaces such as Mars.
Kieserite is mainly utilized in agriculture, chemical production, and geoscientific research, where its stability, nutrient content, and low chloride nature are particularly advantageous.
Kieserite is widely used as a magnesium and sulfur fertilizer in agriculture, particularly for soils that are deficient in magnesium.
It supplies magnesium in a readily available form, which is essential for chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthesis, and enzyme activation, while sulfur supports protein formation and overall plant metabolism.
It is especially suitable for chloride-sensitive crops, such as potatoes, vegetables, fruits, grapes, and tobacco, because kieserite contains no chloride ions.
This makes it preferable to magnesium fertilizers such as magnesium chloride in situations where chloride accumulation may negatively affect crop yield or quality.
Due to its moderate solubility, kieserite provides a controlled and sustained release of nutrients, reducing leaching losses and ensuring longer nutrient availability in the soil.
Kieserite is commonly applied as a basal fertilizer or blended with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers to produce compound and mixed fertilizers.
In the fertilizer and chemical industries, kieserite is used as a raw material for the manufacture of magnesium-containing fertilizers and magnesium sulfate products.
Its relatively low water content and stability make it suitable for granulation and industrial processing.
Kieserite is also used in soil improvement and remediation, where it helps correct magnesium deficiencies and restore nutrient balance in degraded or intensively farmed soils.
In some systems, it contributes to improving soil structure and nutrient uptake efficiency.
In geological and geochemical applications, kieserite serves as an indicator mineral of evaporite deposition, providing information about the salinity, temperature, and evaporation conditions of ancient sedimentary environments.
Kieserite is studied in sedimentology and basin analysis to reconstruct paleoenvironments.
In planetary science, kieserite has attracted attention due to its detection on Mars, where it is used as evidence for past aqueous and evaporative processes.
Its occurrence helps scientists infer the chemical composition of ancient Martian waters and the environmental conditions under which sulfate minerals formed.
Kieserite is mainly utilized in agriculture, fertilizer production, chemical processing, and geoscientific research, where its nutrient value, stability, and chloride-free composition are of particular importance.
Kieserite is also applied in soil management and remediation, where it helps correct magnesium imbalance, improves nutrient availability, and supports healthier soil–plant interactions.
In acidic or nutrient-depleted soils, it contributes to restoring optimal nutrient ratios without introducing excessive salts.
In chemical and industrial applications, kieserite serves as a source of magnesium sulfate for further processing into specialty magnesium products and chemical intermediates.
It is favored in processes requiring magnesium sulfate with low hydration and controlled reactivity.
Kieserite is extensively used as a magnesium and sulfur nutrient source in modern agriculture, particularly in regions where soils are naturally low in magnesium or where intensive cultivation has depleted magnesium reserves.
Kieserite is especially important for crops with high magnesium demand, as magnesium is a central component of chlorophyll and is essential for photosynthesis, carbohydrate transport, and enzyme activation.
Because kieserite is chloride-free, it is highly suitable for chloride-sensitive crops such as potatoes, sugar beet, vegetables, fruits, grapes, tobacco, and ornamental plants.
Its use helps prevent yield loss and quality deterioration that may occur when chloride-containing fertilizers are applied.
Owing to its moderate solubility, kieserite provides a gradual and sustained release of magnesium and sulfur, reducing the risk of nutrient leaching compared with highly soluble magnesium salts.
Kieserite is commonly applied as a base fertilizer, top dressing, or incorporated into NPK compound fertilizers to ensure balanced nutrient supply throughout the growing season.
Safety Profile:
Kieserite is generally regarded as a low-hazard mineral, but exposure to dust may cause mechanical irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.
Prolonged or repeated contact with kieserite dust can lead to eye redness, skin dryness, or mild irritation, particularly under dry handling conditions.
Inhalation of fine kieserite particles may cause respiratory discomfort, such as coughing or throat irritation, especially in poorly ventilated environments.
Adequate ventilation and dust control measures are recommended during handling, storage, and application.
Direct contact with eyes may result in temporary eye irritation due to the abrasive nature of the solid particles.
If eye contact occurs, the eyes should be rinsed thoroughly with water to remove any residual material.
Ingestion of kieserite is not considered acutely toxic, but excessive intake may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, including nausea or diarrhea, due to its magnesium sulfate content.
Accidental ingestion should be avoided, particularly in large quantities.
Kieserite is chemically stable and non-flammable, and it does not present significant fire or explosion hazards.
However, it may react slowly with moisture under humid conditions, leading to partial hydration, which can affect material flow properties during storage.
From an environmental perspective, kieserite poses low ecological risk, as magnesium and sulfate ions are naturally occurring in soils and waters.
Nevertheless, excessive application may contribute to soil or water salinity, so appropriate application rates should be followed.