1. n. [Geology]

[NaCl] A soft, soluble evaporite mineral commonly known as salt or rock salt. Because salt is less dense than many sedimentary rocks, it is relatively buoyant and can form salt domes, pillars or curtains by flowing and breaking through or piercing overlying sediments, as seen in the Gulf of Mexico and the Zagros fold belt. Halite can be critical in forming hydrocarbon traps and seals because it tends to flow rather than fracture during deformation, thus preventing hydrocarbons from leaking out of a trap even during and after some types of deformation.

Synonyms: salt

See related terms: caprock,  diapir,  gypsum,  rheology,  salt dome,  seal,  subsalt