Blue Halite With Sylvite
Blue
Halite, also known as blue rock salt, is an extremely rare variety of
crystallized sodium chloride. It usually occurs in a cubic form but has
also been found as masses, grains, and tiny shards. The galactic color
spectrum Blue Halite offers is due to minor impurities of potassium
within the salt’s chemical composition.
The largest deposit of Blue Halite is located in Saskatchewan, Canada, formed during the evaporation of a large ocean that existed around 400 million years ago. Other important localities include deposits in the southern United States, Pakistan, Germany, Spain, Iran, Romania, and the United Kingdom.
Luster: VitreousStreak: White
Cleavage: Perfect, three directions cubic
Specific gravity: 2.17
Fracture: Conchoidal
Crystal system: Cubic/Isometric
The largest deposit of Blue Halite is located in Saskatchewan, Canada, formed during the evaporation of a large ocean that existed around 400 million years ago. Other important localities include deposits in the southern United States, Pakistan, Germany, Spain, Iran, Romania, and the United Kingdom.
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| Blue Halite With Sylvite. Photo: Joe Budd. |
Luster: Vitreous
Chemical Composition: NaCl
Cleavage: Perfect, three directions cubic
Specific gravity: 2.17
Fracture: Conchoidal
Crystal system: Cubic/Isometric
Mohs scale hardness: 2.0–2.5
Locality: Carlsbad Potash District, Eddy & Lea Counties, New Mexico, USA