Halite is a widespread mineral, another name is "rock salt". It is the main source of table salt. Forms large deposits.
You can see halite stone for sale and buy it in the Minerals of Russia online store.
General | |
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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)[2] |
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 |