Halite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:LBM1948" title="User:LBM1948">LBM1948</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameHalite
Chemical FormulaNaCl
Mohs Hardness2
Crystal Systemcubic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect cubic on {001}, {010}, and {100}
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.16
Colorswhite, colorless, gray, yellow, orange, blue, purple, pink, red
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityBadwater Salt Flats, Death Valley National Park, California, USA
Mineral GroupHalides
Usesfood additive, de-icing agent, chemical industry, water softening, animal feed
Associated Mineralsgypsum, anhydrite, sylvite, carnallite
Raritycommon
Description
The image displays a close-up of crystallized salt, appearing white to light bluish-gray, forming intricate, delicate structures and blocky aggregates on a dark background.
Geological Context
Halite forms as an evaporite mineral in arid environments where saline water bodies, such as playas, salt lakes, or restricted marine basins, undergo evaporation, leading to the precipitation of dissolved sodium chloride.
