Halite

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A large and relatively complete crystal of blue halite from this old, classic locale, showing deep color and unusually good size for here. I think all faces certainly are legitimate and show the slight imperfections you would expect of natural cubic faces, including a few small dings; and the piece is then complete all around except the backside. Joe Budd photos. Note added From the CalTech website courtesy Dr. George Rossman: http://minerals.caltech.edu: Blue halite is the result of exposure to natural radiation. Initially, if halite (common salt) is exposed to gamma radiation, it turns amber because of F-centers. They are mostly electrons trapped at sites of missing Cl- ions. In time the electrons migrate to Na+ ions and reduce it to Na metal. Atoms of Na metal, in turn, migrate to form colloidal sized aggregrates of sodium metal. They are the cause of the blue color.