Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
halite

Chemical Group:    halide

Chemical Formula:    NaCl

Color:  colorless, white, blue, gray, yellow, red             Streak:  white

Luster: vitreous

Transparency:  transparent to translucent

Hardness:  2.5         Specific Gravity:  2.164                 

Cleavage:  cubic, three directions at right angles

Crystal Forms and Habits:  Isometric system
     Crystals are usually cubes; cubes may have hopper faces.
     Commonly massive

Mineral Associations:

Identifying Characteristics:  soluble in water, salty taste

Uses:

Occurrences: Detroit, Michigan, salt domes 

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- low           when inhaled- low

Additional Information:   halite is common table salt