Halite
Halite (/ˈhælaɪtˌ ˈheɪlaɪt/ HAL-yte, HAY-lyte), 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 (háls).
| Halite | |
|---|---|
Halite from the Wieliczka salt mine, Małopolskie, Poland | |
| General | |
| Category | Halide mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | NaCl |
| IMA symbol | Hl |
| Strunz classification | 3.AA.20 |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
| Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) |
| Space group | Fm3m |
| Unit cell | a = 5.6404(1) Å; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Formula mass | 58.433 g/mol |
| Color | Colorless or white when pure. Impurities produce any color but usually yellow, gray, black, brown, red (Depends on isotopes and purity for various colours) |
| Crystal habit | Predominantly cubes and in massive sedimentary beds, but also granular, fibrous and compact |
| Cleavage | Perfect {001}, three directions cubic |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2.0–2.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent to Translucent |
| Specific gravity | 2.17 |
| Optical properties | Isotropic |
| Refractive index | n = 1.544 |
| Melting point | 800.7 °C |
| Solubility | Water-soluble |
| Other characteristics | Salty flavor, fluorescent |
| References | |
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