Halite (/ ˈhælaɪt, ˈheɪlaɪt / HAL-yte, HAY-lyte), [7][8][9] commonly known as rock salt, is a type of salt, the mineral (natural) form of sodium chloride (Na Cl). Halite forms isometric crystals. [10] The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow or gray depending on inclusion of other materials, impurities, and.
Halite forms clear transparent crystals that exhibit perfect cubic cleavage. If you look closely at table salt, the salt is an array of small cubic fragments, the result of halite's crystal structure and perfect cubic cleavage. Halite structure: This diagram shows the arrangement of sodium and chloride ions in a crystal of halite.
The best way to learn about minerals is to study with a collection of small specimens that you can handle, examine, and observe their properties. Inexpensive mineral collections are available in the Geology.com Store. Halite is the mineral form of sodium chloride, NaCl, commonly known as rock salt.
Halite occurs as cubic crystals that are typically colorless to white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, or pink. Occurrences: Detroit, Michigan, salt domes Toxicity: When-swallowed: low When-inhaled: low Additional Information: Halite is common table salt. If salt (the mineral halite) forms with an excess of sodium atoms, it will develop a blue color.
If the salt is crushed it loses the blue coloration. Back to Minerals. Physical Properties of Halite Cleavage: {100} Perfect, {010} Perfect, {001} Perfect Color: White, Clear, Light blue, Dark blue, Pink.
Density: 2.17 Diaphaneity: Transparent Fracture: Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals. Habit: Crystalline - Coarse - Occurs as well-formed coarse sized crystals. Habit: Euhedral Crystals.
Halite: Background and Summary Halite, also known as rock salt, is a mineral that is easily recognizable by its white or colorless appearance. This mineral is formed through the process of evaporating seawater or other saline solutions. Halite is commonly found in sedimentary rocks, and its crystals are usually cubic in shape.
Halite can be a variety of colors. Most usually, it is clear, white, or gray. An orange or pink color can come from trace amounts of hematite (iron).
A deep blue or indigo color can be the result of halite being exposed to natural radition when the salt is deposited next to radioactive, potassium. The top two images of halite specimens are from underground environments and the bottom two are from salt lake surface deposits. Most halite is white or clear, but halite can have many colors depending on the material included in it or color caused by defects in its crystal lattice.
Ones like the pink one above are colored by dead algae. The blue and purple halites are thought to be mostly. The halite has a pink color and a pearly luster, and is dimly transparent in some areas.
Most of the larger crystals are covered with a very thin crust of thenardite, a sodium sulfate mineral that likely pseudomorphed from the Halite.