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Mineral Monday: Halite

Learn about the fast-moving mineral halite in this week's episode of Mineral Monday.

Halite on display

The halite specimen pictured here was found at the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Humboldt County, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­.

Mineral Monday: Halite

Learn about the fast-moving mineral halite in this week's episode of Mineral Monday.

The halite specimen pictured here was found at the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Humboldt County, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­.

Halite on display

The halite specimen pictured here was found at the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Humboldt County, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­.

The geological time scale is vast and long. Rocks and minerals often take millions of years to form. This week's episode of Mineral Monday, however, looks at a mineral that moves much faster than that: halite! The College of Science weekly video series, Mineral Monday, explores the many minerals, fossils and historical objects on display at the W.M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum, as told by curator Garrett Barmore. Watch the video below to learn more about the fast-moving mineral, halite.

Garrett holds a hematite specimen

Halite is generally a translucent white and forms in these beautiful cube-shaped crystals you see here. The sticks you see poking out are the remnants of a sagebrush that the halite took over and killed.

Kidney ore

Halite is related to salt, and if you taste it, it will taste a bit salty.

Halite button

More about the Keck Museum and Mineral Monday

Located in the Mackay School of Mines building at the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­, the W.M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

The Keck Museum houses an outstanding collection of minerals, ores, fossil specimens, and photographs, in addition to mining related relics. The museum is also home to some of the spectacular Mackay Silver Collection, created by Tiffany & Co., for John Mackay and completed in 1878.

For directions and museum details, visit unr.edu/keck

Mineral Monday is produced by the College of Science. To receive Mineral Monday in your inbox each week, sign up here.


See you next Mineral Monday!

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