What is "epsomite"

Epsomite \Ep"som*ite\, n. Native sulphate of magnesia or Epsom salt.

n. (context mineral English) A saline evaporite, consisting of magnesium sulphate, also found in fumaroles, with the chemical formula magnesiumsulfuroxygen₄'''·'''7water.

Epsomite is a hydrous magnesium sulfate mineral with formula MgSO·7HO.

Epsomite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system as rarely found acicular or fibrous crystals, the normal form is as massive encrustations. It is colorless to white with tints of yellow, green and pink. The Mohs hardness is 2 to 2.5 and it has a low specific gravity of 1.67.

Epsomite is the same as the household chemical, Epsom salt, and is readily soluble in water. It absorbs water from the air and converts to hexahydrate with the loss of one water molecule and a switch to monoclinic structure.