ScienceSeptember 3, 2026
hydrohalite
HY-droh-ha-lyt
Definition
A mineral species of hydrated sodium chloride that forms as a solid crystal deposit when brine trapped in sea ice reaches very low temperatures.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'hydor' meaning water, and 'halite', the mineral name for rock salt (from the Greek 'hals' meaning salt), describing its nature as a hydrated salt compound.
In the news
In the article, hydrohalite is identified as a salt that forms a bright, reflective crust on freezing sea ice, which potentially helped intensify the cooling of Earth during the 'Snowball' period.
Salt May Have Helped Turn Earth into a ‘Snowball’ 700 Million Years Ago
Read the full article ↗ZME Science