Mineral Mondays: Pink Halite aka Pink Himalaya Salt

It's Monday and time to introduce you to another mineral. Today I'd like to talk to you about the mineral that started mine & my wife's collecting journey, pink halite, also known as pink himalaya salt. 

As you can see though this isn't your normal salt crystal. 

What is Pink Halite?

Pink halite is rock salt that has been given it's color by halophilic bacteria. When the bacteria die they produce a red color and are absorbed by the crystals during crystal growth. The dead bacteria can produce white to dark red, cranberry colored crystals as well as blue & green crystals.

Where is Pink Halite found?

Collectors come from all over the world once a year to get the chance to collect this mineral in Trona, California at the Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society's show, Gem O Rama. Fabulous specimens like shown above sell for hundreds of dollars to collectors all over the world. To my knowledge, Searles Lake is the only place in the world where the pink halite grows into massive crystals like this.

The salt crystals grow in shallow brine pools on the lake bed through the process of evaporation. The lake is a sink in the middle of the desert, surrounded on all sides by mountains. These mountains drain into the lake and the minerals accumulate there as there is no way for them to drain out. 

Is it easy to collect?

Actually, pink halite is very hard. When digging for it we use 5' long breaker bars of 1" thick steel, as well as pick axes, pry bars, shovels, sledge hammers, cold chisels and anything steel. Even with those tools specimens like above can take an hour to dig out. It's hard work in the hot, desert sun, but the reward is well worth it. 

And now let's let the pictures do the talking.

ALL PHOTOS & VIDEOS ARE TAKEN BY ME OR MY WIFE WITH OUR IPHONE 6, 6SPLUS or 7.

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