Blue Halite

Blue halite from Tuzluca is a really fun example of how something as ordinary as rock salt can be so eye catching. Tuzluca has been known for its salt deposits for a very long time, with the local salt workings thought to have been used as far back as the Urartian period. The deposits formed from ancient evaporite environments and contain thick layers of halite and gypsum.

The blue color is what makes these specimens stand out. Halite is normally colorless, but natural blue varieties can develop from defects and trapped electrons within the crystal. Blue halite from Tuzluca is now a recognizable material from the locality, with some crystals showing strong blue color and zoning.