Himalayan Salt (Halite)
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Iifar" title="User:Iifar">Ivar Leidus</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameHimalayan Salt (Halite)
Chemical FormulaNaCl
Mohs Hardness2
Crystal Systemcubic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect in three directions (cubic)
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.16
Colorswhite, pink, orange, reddish-brown
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityKhewra Salt Mine, Punjab, Pakistan
Mineral GroupHalides
Usesculinary, food additive, decorative lamps, bath salts, de-icing agent
Associated Mineralsgypsum, anhydrite, sylvite, clay minerals
Raritycommon
Description
The image displays a pile of coarse, irregularly shaped crystals of Himalayan salt, exhibiting a range of colors from translucent white to various shades of pink and orange.
Geological Context
Halite forms as an evaporite mineral from the desiccation of saline water bodies. The Himalayan salt deposits are ancient marine evaporites that were uplifted and folded during the formation of the Himalayas.
