Halides are binary compounds. They are composed of a halogen and a metal ion. The crystal chemistry of halides is characterized by the electronegativity of halogen ions.^[6] This means that the dominant large ions are the Cl⁻, Br⁻, F⁻, or I⁻. These are easily polarized.^{[6][7][page needed]} The ions combine with similarly large but low valence and weakly polarized cations. The cations are mostly of the alkali metal group. Sylvite is a binary compound with the formula KCl. Sylvite precipitates first from mixed solutions of K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Cl⁻, leaving a brine enriched in magnesium from which the mixed halide carnallite then precipitates.^[6]

Carnallite's chemical formula is KMgCl₃·6(H₂O). Synthetic carnallite crystal specimens can be produced from 1.5 mole percent KCl and 98.5 mole percent MgCl₂·6H₂O by slow crystallization at 25 °C.^[8] Its density is 1.602 g/cm³.^[8] Carnallite can also be produced by grinding the combination of hydrated magnesium chloride and potassium chloride.^[9]

The carnallite structure exhibits corner- and face-sharing. There is a network of KCl₆ octahedra, with two-thirds of them sharing faces.^[8] Mg(H₂O)₆ octahedra occupy the open spaces within the KCl octahedra. The interatomic distance between Mg and H₂O ranges from 0.204 to 0.209 nm,^[8] with an average is 0.2045 nm.^[8] The interatomic distance between K and Cl ranges 0.317 to 0.331 nm.,^[8] with an average of 0.324 nm.^[8] The resulting structure has a calculated density of 1.587 g/cm³, in good agreement with the measured value of 1.602 g/cm³.^[8]

Face-sharing creates more chance of instability, according to the third of Pauling's rules.^[7] In carnallite, the water molecules enclose the magnesium ions. This prevents the magnesium and the chloride from interacting directly; instead, the water molecules act as charge transmitters.^[8] The five chloride anions are each coordinated to two potassium cations as well as four water molecules.^[8] This means that each chloride anion receives 1/6 of a +1 charge from each of the two potassium ions. The chloride also obtains 1/6 of a +1 charge from each the four water molecules. The charges thus total six 1/6 positive charges, which balance the negative charge of the chloride. These two aspects render the rare face-sharing described by the second and third of Pauling's rules acceptable in the carnallite structure.^[7][8]

Carnallite's refractive index ranges from 1.467 to 1.494.^{[7][10][page needed]} Carnallite may be red as a result of hematite (Fe₂O₃) inclusions.^[10] The fragmented shards of iron oxide produce red tints in the thin laminae of hematite.^[10] Carnallite is also deliquescent in high humidity. This implies that it is also extremely soluble in water.^[10] Individual crystals are pseudo-hexagonal and tabular but are extremely rarely seen.^{[11][page needed]} Field indicators of carnallite are environment of formation, absence of cleavage, and fracture. Other indicators can be density, taste, associations to local minerals, and whether it is capable of luminescence. Carnallite has a bitter taste.^[11] Carnallite may not only be fluorescent but is capable of being phosphorescent.^[11] The potassium that carnallite contains fuses easily within a flame, creating a violet color.^[11]

Mineral associations based on some physical properties include, but not limited to, halite, anhydrite, dolomite, gypsum, kainite, kieserite, polyhalite, and sylvite.^{[7][12][page needed][13]}

Carnallite minerals are mineral sediments known as evaporites. Evaporites are concentrated by evaporation of seawater. The inflow of water must be below the evaporation or use levels. This creates a prolonged evaporation period. In controlled environment experiments, the halides form when 10%–20% of the original sample of water remains.^[14] Closer to 10 percent sylvite followed by Carnallite form.^[14]

Carnallite is mostly found in saline marine deposits,^[11] although beds exist in the endorheic Qaidam Basin of China's Qinghai Province near Dabusun Nor.^[15]

Carnallite is mostly used in fertilizers. It is an important source of potash.^[13] Only sylvite outranks carnallite's importance in potash production.^[13] Both are uncommon because they are some of the last evaporites to form.^[13] Soluble potassium salts are the main sources for fertilizer. This is because the potassium is difficult to separate from insoluble potassium feldspar.^[13] Carnallite is a minor source of magnesium worldwide; however, it is Russia's main source.^[13]

• Evaporite
• List of minerals
• List of minerals named after people