mineral

Halite

Halite (Sodium Chloride, NaCl)

Hardness: 2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless or white, can be pink or orange due to impurities; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Cubic; Cleavage: Perfect cubic; Specific Gravity: 2.16

Hardness: 2
Color: Colorless or white, can be pink or orange due to impurities
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 28, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless or white, can be pink or orange due to impurities; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Cubic; Cleavage: Perfect cubic; Specific Gravity: 2.16

Formation & geological history

Formed by the evaporation of saline water (seawater or lake water) in sedimentary basins, forming evaporite deposits. Most major deposits date from the Permian or Triassic periods.

Uses & applications

Primary source of table salt and road salt; used in chemical manufacturing (chlorine and lye), food preservation, and water softening.

Geological facts

Commonly known as rock salt. The pink variety often comes from the Himalayas or Searles Lake, California, where halophilic bacteria and algae provide the pigment.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its perfect cubic habit and salty taste (though tasting is generally discouraged). Found in salt flats, dry lake beds, and underground salt domes. Collectors look for translucent cubes.