Halite |
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Halite from the Wieliczka salt mine, Małopolskie, Poland (size: 16x15x13cm) |
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Category | Halide mineral |
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Formula (repeating unit) | NaCl |
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Strunz classification | 03.AA.20 |
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Crystal symmetry | Isometric hexoctahedral 4/m 3 2/m |
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Unit cell | a = 5.6404(1) Å; Z = 4 |
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Molecular mass | 58.433 g/mol |
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Color | Colorless or white; also blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, orange, or gray |
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Crystal habit | Predominantly cubes and in massive sedimentary beds, but also granular, fibrous and compact |
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Crystal system | Cubic |
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Cleavage | Perfect {001}, three directions cubic |
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Fracture | Conchoidal |
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Tenacity | Brittle |
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Mohs scale hardness | 2 - 2.5 |
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Luster | Vitreous |
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Streak | White |
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Diaphaneity | Transparent |
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Specific gravity | 2.17 |
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Optical properties | Isotropic |
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Refractive index | n = 1.544 |
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Solubility | Water soluble |
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Other characteristics | Salty flavor, Fluorescent |
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References | |
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