Halite
| Colour | Clear, White, Pink, Orange |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 2.0–2.5 |
| Lustre | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
| Transparency | Transparent to Translucent |
| Cleavage | Perfect {001}, three directions cubic |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Chemical formula | NaCl |
| Specific gravity | 2.17 |
What is Halite?
Halite, commonly known as rock salt, is a type of salt, the mineral (natural) form of sodium chloride (NaCl). Halite forms isometric crystals. 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 structural or isotopic abnormalities in the crystals. It commonly occurs with other evaporite deposit minerals such as several of the sulfates, halides, and borates. The name halite is derived from the Ancient Greek word for "salt", ἅλς.
How to identify Halite
- Lustre: Vitreous.
- Hardness: Mohs 2.0–2.5 — soft; a knife will scratch it.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: Cubic crystal system.
Halite in different forms
Stones often confused with Halite
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Halite?
Halite is Mohs 2.0–2.5 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Halite?
Halite is typically clear, white, pink, orange (Colorless or white when pure. Impurities produce any color but usually yellow, gray, black, brown, red (Depends on isoto).