mineral

Polished pink halite (Himalayan salt)

Halite (sodium chloride, NaCl)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically pale pink to orange-brown with a vitreous-to-waxy luster; Mohs hardness 2–2.5, cubic crystal structure, perfect cubic cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.16. The rounded, translucent appearance indicates a polished or shaped specimen.

Identified August 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms by evaporation of saline water in restricted marine basins; Himalayan salt deposits largely formed during the Ediacaran–Cambrian, roughly 500–600 million years ago. Trace iron oxides and other minerals produce the pink coloration.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as culinary salt, decorative lighting, bath products, and mineral specimens; it is generally unsuitable for durable construction because it dissolves readily in water.

Geological facts

Halite tastes salty, dissolves rapidly in water, and commonly displays cubic cleavage. Pink color is caused by fluid inclusions and trace impurities rather than the pure halite itself.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its low hardness, salty taste, water solubility, cubic cleavage, and translucent pink color; common deposits occur in Pakistan’s Salt Range and other evaporite basins. Avoid prolonged humidity, which can cause sweating and dissolution.