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Salt Science: Why Crystals Form Perfect Cubes

Salt is a common name for the mineral halite (NaCl), a substance deeply intertwined with our daily lives. It plays essential roles in activities such as cooking or de-icing roads. Halite naturally forms in a cubic shape due to its organized arrangement of ions, which allows it to break smoothly into cubes. Minerals break in specific patterns depending on their atomic bonds, a property known as cleavage in mineralogy. This exhibition aims to explore mineralogical concepts through hands-on modules, including building large-scale crystal structures of halite. Together, we'll answer the fascinating question: Why do halite crystals form in perfect cubes?

Presented by:

  • Luisa Chavarria, Graduate Student, Earth and Environmental Sciences, MSU
  • Allison Pease, Graduate Student, Earth and Environmental Sciences, MSU
  • Devika Padmakumar, Graduate Student, Earth and Environmental Sciences, MSU
  • Heidi Krauss, Graduate Student, Earth and Environmental Sciences, MSU
  • A.J. Gooding, Graduate Student, Earth and Environmental Sciences, MSU

Suggested for ages: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Scientific Disciplines:

  • Archaeology and Geology
  • STEAM Expo Days 149

Time and Location

  • 4/5/2025 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

    Location: STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Second Floor, West Wing

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