How Himalayan Salt Is Mined?

Nobody can deny the health and well-being advantages of Himalayan pink salt from Pakistan. It is used for a variety of applications, including culinary, salt therapy, skincare goods, and spa treatments. This is due to the unusual crystal structure of Himalayan rock salt, which is manually mined in the Khewra Himalayan salt mines.

Pakistan exports about 400,000 tons of Himalayan salt each year in the form of various salt products. Read on to learn some interesting details about pink salt mining and to admire the laborers who provide nothing but pure Himalayan salt to your tables.

 

Extracting Himalayan Salt from Pakistan

Himalayan salt is only found in salt mines located in Pakistan. This salt originates from the world's second-largest salt mine, located near Khewra, Punjab. The area, known as the salt range, is found in the slopes of the Himalayas in Pakistan.

Geologists believe that the Himalayan pink salt mine was produced by the shifting of the tectonic plates that trapped the inland sea some 250 million years back. The sea eventually dried up, leaving gigantic Himalayan salt boulders behind.

 

 

Himalayan Salt Mining

Many people believe that Alexander the Great's horses found these salt deposits. However, the British were the ones who expanded the salt mining technique in the 1870s. They dug enough tunnels inside the mine to obtain this rare rock salt. Then, one of the British mining experts created an inventive plan to expand the tunnel system within the mine, known as the "Room and Pillar."

Interestingly, this architectural approach is still in use due to its efficacy. During the salt mining process, the miners extract half of the mined salt in the room, leaving the other half to serve as the chamber's pillar. This technology not only ensures mine safety but also helps to preserve the structural integrity of mountain ranges and salt chambers.

You will be shocked to learn that the mine has 19 levels, 11 of which are below ground. The salt mine is around 730 meters deep in the mountains, and the tunnels are approximately 40 kilometers long. The temperature inside the mine swings from 10ºC to 20ºC throughout the year.

The construction of the electric train in the 1930s made it easier to extract salt rocks outside the mine. Furthermore, it let tourists to observe the extraction process.

 

 

Early Mine Opening

During the initial phase, laborers and miners use dynamite and explosives only once to open the main entrance. They first use the hole saw to drill by hand before packing the gunpowder. Later, they use a protective fuse to ignite it and blow out the salt.

This procedure has been used for hundreds of years; however, it is not suggested within the mine because the poisons represent a serious health danger. Furthermore, it is vital to preserve the crystalline structure of Himalayan salt.

 

Hand Mining

Do not fear, the miners do not utilize explosives within the mine; instead, they mine by hand with hammers, pickaxes, hand drills, and other tools.

During the mining process, workmen grab massive Himalayan salt blocks, put them into containers, and transport them outside. As a result, miners discover almost 1,000 tons of salt per day, which is equal to the fat of 157 elephants.


Later, different companies process the salt blocks in various grain sizes and shapes, depending on the end product and use. Some firms send the blocks via grinders to break them down into compact grains appropriate for various applications.

For example, coarse Himalayan pink salt is formed out of huge salt crystals that are used in grinders and spas, whereas small Himalayan salt crystals are ideal for cooking. Furthermore, numerous manufacturers create salt bricks and light out of enormous slabs of Himalayan salt.

 

Himalayan Salt Mining's Ecological Impact

One of the major advantages of pink salt mining is that it supports overall economic growth through higher exports. Furthermore, salt mining officials adhere to conventional mining protocols and regulations in order to protect and preserve the environment while avoiding any type of accident or catastrophe.

Furthermore, safe mining practices ensure that mining operations do not pose any environmental hazards. To preserve the salt mine structure and protect the miners' safety, all mining is done by hand rather than using explosives.

The salt mining authority has also installed a drainage system to avoid salt pollution by removing dirty water.

 

Read More: Is Pink Salt Good For High Blood Pressure?

 

Conclusion

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of pink salt that sets it apart from traditional table salt is its pink tint, which is caused by iron deposits.

Himalayan salt has recently become popular due to its medicinal, health, and wellness properties. It also includes trace amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium, all of which are vital to the human body.

The good news is that there is no evidence that Himalayan salt mining harms vegetation or wildlife.