Name/Title
HaliteEntry/Object ID
2014.1.67Description
Chemical Composition: Al(OH)3
Crystal System: Hexagonal System
Description: Common Name: Halite
Chemistry: NaCl
Group: Halides
Location: Searles Lake, California
Description: Small specimen with a group of cubic crystals colored white with a long limb protruding from the crystals.
Physical Charateristics:
Color is clear or white but can be found blue, purple, pink, yellow and gray. Luster is vitreous. Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent. Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m Crystal Habits are predominantly cubes and in massive sedimentary beds, but also granular, fibrous and compact. Some crystals show a crystal type called a hopper crystal discribed above. Cleavage is perfect in three directions forming cubes. Fracture is conchoidal. Hardness is 2 Specific Gravity is 2.1+ (light) Streak is white. Associated Minerals include other evaporite deposit minerals such as several sulfates, halides and borates. Other Characteristics: Salty taste. Notable Occurrences include Searles Lake, California and Utah in the U.S., Germany, and Mulhouse, France. Best Field Indicators are taste, cleavage and crystal habit. Note that the similar halide sylvite (potassium chloride) has a distinctively bitter taste, and does not powder as easily with a knife blade. - See more at: http://www.galleries.com/halite#sthash.KncgKy1D.dpuf
Hardness: 7 Quartz
Rock Type: SedimentaryCollection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2014.1Source or Donor
Crater Rock Museum (unknown donors)Acquisition Method
GiftDimensions
Height
4-1/4 inWidth
1-3/4 inLength
2-11/16 inDimension Notes
The limb protruding from the crystal is 8" long with a diameter of .365".Location
Location
Display Case
FS-5-ARoom
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
ExhibitMoved By
Ian C.Date
January 29, 2025Notes
Major mineral groups installationLocation
Display Case
FS-11Room
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Curtis GardnerDate
December 27, 2023
