Nobody can deny the health and wellness advantages of Himalayan pink salt from Pakistan. It can be 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 pink rock salt, which is manually mined at the Khewra salt mine.
Pakistan exports approximately 400,000 tons of Himalayan salt each year in the form of various salt products. Read on to learn some fascinating facts about Himalayan pink salt mining and to appreciate the efforts of the workers who provide nothing but pure Himalayan salt to your tables.
The difference between Himalayan pink salt and sea salt is not only in their flavor or consistency, but also in their source and quality. Let’s examine the differences between these salts and understand why Himalayan pink salt is being more widely acknowledged as the superior choice.
Extraction Of Himalayan Salt
Himalayan salt can only be found in salt mines in Pakistan. This salt is sourced from the world’s second-largest salt mine, located near Khewra, Punjab. The salt range is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in Pakistan.
Geologists believe that the Himalayan pink salt mine was produced by the shifting of tectonic plates that trapped the inland sea some 250 million years back. The sea eventually dried up, leaving gigantic Himalayan salt boulders behind.
Pakistan is the source of all Himalayan salt found in local stores worldwide. The good news is that there are enough salt deposits to create Himalayan salt for hundreds of years. Professional miners use a variety of procedures to exploit these salt deposits.
Himalayan Salt Mining
Many people believe that Alexander the Great’s horses discovered these salt deposits. However, the British were the ones who increased the salt mining technique in the 1870s. They created adequate tunnels within the mine to obtain this valuable rock salt. Then, one of the British mining experts devised 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 effectiveness. 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 storeys, 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.
Extracting the salt rocks outside the mine became simple with the construction of the electric train in the 1930s. It also gave the tourists a chance to observe the extraction procedure.
Early Opening Of The Mine
In the first phase, the miners and workers open the main entrance only once with dynamite and explosives. They pack the gunpowder after manually drilling with the auger. Later, they blow out the salt by lighting it with a protective fuse.
Although this technique has been used for hundreds of years, it is not advised to utilize it within the mine due to the serious health risks posed by the pollutants. Furthermore, the Himalayan salt’s crystalline structure must be preserved.
Hand Mining
Don’t worry; the miners utilize hammers, pickaxes, hand drills, and other tools to mine manually rather than utilizing explosives within the mine.
During the mining process, the workers collect massive blocks of Himalayan salt, fill the containers, and transport them outside. Because of this, the miners dig about 1,000 tons of salt per day, which is equivalent to 157 elephants’ worth of fat.
Depending on the final product and the use, various sectors subsequently process the salt blocks in varying grain sizes and forms. To break the blocks into compact grains that can be used for a variety of purposes, some companies feed them into grinders.
Environmental Impact
The total economic expansion brought about by more exports is one of the biggest benefits of pink salt mining. In order to safeguard the environment and prevent any accidents or mishaps, the salt mining authority also observe the mining legislation and conduct standard mining processes.
Furthermore, environmentally sustainable mining methods ensure that there are no environmental risks associated with mining operations. To protect the structure of the salt mine and the miners’ safety, all mining is done by hand rather than using explosives.
A drainage system has also been implemented by the salt mining authorities to release the contaminated water and avoid salt contamination.
Conclusion
The pink tint of the pink salt, which is caused by the iron residues, is one of its most distinguishing characteristics from ordinary table salt.
Recently, the Himalayan salt has become more well-known due to its wellness, health, and therapeutic properties. Additionally, it includes trace amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium—all of which are vital for human health.
The good news is that there is no proof that the mining of salt in the Himalayas has a negative impact on wildlife or flora.
