Here's why:

* Formation: Halite is formed by the evaporation of water in enclosed bodies of water like lakes or seas. As the water evaporates, the dissolved salts, primarily sodium chloride (NaCl), become concentrated and eventually precipitate out, forming crystals of halite.

* Composition: Halite is primarily composed of sodium chloride, which is the same chemical compound that makes up table salt.

* Characteristics: Halite is typically white or clear, but can also be other colors due to impurities. It has a cubic crystal structure and is quite brittle.

Therefore, halite is classified as an evaporite rock, a category of sedimentary rocks formed through the process of evaporation.