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What Is Halite?

Halite is the mineral name for salt. It forms primarily through the evaporation of ocean water in arid climates, leaving behind salt deposits that can be thousands of feet thick over geological time. In addition to being used to control snow and ice on roads in winter, salt has many industrial and dietary uses and is an essential nutrient for humans and animals. Halite has a chemical composition of sodium chloride and is colorless or white in appearance with a cubic crystal structure.

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79 views

What Is Halite?

Halite is the mineral name for salt. It forms primarily through the evaporation of ocean water in arid climates, leaving behind salt deposits that can be thousands of feet thick over geological time. In addition to being used to control snow and ice on roads in winter, salt has many industrial and dietary uses and is an essential nutrient for humans and animals. Halite has a chemical composition of sodium chloride and is colorless or white in appearance with a cubic crystal structure.

Uploaded by

Mong Titya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Halite

The mineral that everyone knows as "salt"

What is Halite?
Halite is the mineral name for the substance that everyone knows as "salt". Its chemical name is sodium chloride and a
rock composed primarily of halite is known as "rock salt".

How Does Halite Form?


Halite is mainly a sedimentary mineral that usually forms in arid climates where ocean water evaporates. However, many
inland lakes such as the Great Salt Lake of North America and the Dead Sea between Jordan and Israel are also locations
where halite is forming today. Over geologic time several enormous salt deposits have been formed when repeated
episodes of seawater evaporation occurred in restricted basins. Some of these deposits are thousands of feet thick. When
buried deeply they can erupt to form salt domes.

How is Halite Used?


Salt has many uses. Most of the salt produced is crushed and used in the winter on roads to control the accumulation of
snow and ice. Significant amounts of salt are also used by the chemical industry. Salt is an essential nutrient for humans
and most animals and it is also a favorite seasoning for many types of food. Salt is a mineral that everyone knows.

Physical Properties of Halite


Chemical
Classification

halide

Color

colorless or white when pure; impurities


produce any color but usually yellow,
gray, black, brown, red

Streak

white

Luster

vitreous

Diaphaneity
Cleavage
Mohs Hardness
Specific
Gravity
Diagnostic
Properties
Chemical
Composition
Crystal System
Uses

transparent to translucent
perfect, cubic, three directions at right
angles
2.5
2
cleavage, solubility, salty taste - (The
taste test is discouraged. Some minerals
are toxic or contaminated by other
people tasting them.)
NaCl
isometric
winter road treatment, a source of
sodium and chlorine for chemical
processes, food preservation, seasoning

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