Himalayan Salt History
Is Himalayan salt eco-friendly?
Himalayan salt is sustainable. It is a natural product that contains trace minerals, many of which are also found in our bodies. The salt is hand-mined by skilled workers using traditional methods, which results in minimal pollution or waste.
Although the salt was formed millions of years ago, the six mines where it is harvested still have large supplies. The largest mine, Khewra, is estimated to hold 6.7 billion tons of salt, with about 220 million tons currently accessible. Khewra mines about 400,000 tons of salt each year, which means the supply could last for over 500 years at that rate. If mining operations expanded, the supply could be even more long-lasting.
Brief History of Himalayan Salt Mining
The story of Himalayan salt begins more than 500 million years ago in the formative Precambrian era. An ancient inland sea slowly evaporated, leaving behind expansive mineral salt deposits. As tectonic activity shifted the earth, the seabed was hermetically sealed, buried under intense pressure.
The salt deposits were first discovered centuries later around 326 BC when Alexander the Great and his soldiers stopped to rest in the Khewra region in what is now Northern Pakistan. One member of the group noted their tired and hungry horses had gathered around and were licking the salty rocks.
Centuries after this initial discovery, the Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar introduced standardized salt mining in Khewra. While many historians believed the salt was mined in small quantities by local communities, it wasn’t until the reign of Emperor Akbar that this pink, mineral-rich salt became a traded commodity.
In 1827, a British engineer established a sustainable excavation model called Room and Pillat (orDome and Pillar) which gave rise to modern mining and increased harvesting.
Himalayan salt is still hand-harvested by skilled workers who use these time-honored methods and techniques established under Akbar and the British.
Where Does Himalayan Salt Come From?
The Salt Range begins in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in Northeast Pakistan and stretches across approximately 186 miles from the Jhelum River to the Indus River. The range varies in width from 5 to 19 miles and includes several peaks nearly 5,000 feet high. There are six primary mines scattered across the Salt Range and each produces unique, varied and distinct salts.
The Khewra Salt Mine (also sometimes called the Mayo Salt Mine) is the most well-known, largest and also the oldest in the Salt Range. It produces most of the salt we’ve come to know as Himalayan Salt with the range of light-to-dark pink coloring.
Established in the 1820s, this mine extends through 25 miles of tunnels across 18 working levels. A major tourist attraction, it draws nearly 300,000 visitors to Pakistan each year with its unique artistic salt carvings of famous monuments including miniature replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China as well as a small mosque and a bridge built entirely from salt blocks that extends over a salt brine pond.
The mine where SaltWorks sources Ancient Ocean is trade secret. We have built a strong relationship and have an exclusive partnership with a reputable and trusted mining company from whom we source all of our Himalayan Pink Salt. This salt vendor is registered with the FDA, in full compliance with the Bioterrorism Act of 2002, and shares our commitment to quality and high production standards. The mine is overseen by the Pakistan Mining Development Corporation which ensures that no child or slave labor is used and miners are provided fair wages, medical care and education.
Effect of salt pink mining on envouirment
Himalayan salt is harvested using the Room and Pillar (also called Dome and Pillar architectural system established by the British in the early 1800s. This method supports the sustainability (and safety) of the mines. Only 50 percent of the salt in eachroom within the mine is harvested and removed. The remaining 50 percent is left as pillars to support the structure of the rooms and the mountain.
The use of dynamite or explosives is often a concern. Explosives are only used for the initial opening of the entrance to the mine (this process occurred more than a hundred years ago for the six established mines in the Salt Range). All mining of Himalayan salt is done by hand using traditional, established methods. Though this is a slow process, the use of explosives within the mine is prohibited to protect the crystal structure of the salt. No known wildlife or plant life is affected by the salt mining.
Where Does Himalayan Salt Come From?
The Salt Range begins in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in Northeast Pakistan and stretches across approximately 186 miles from the Jhelum River to the Indus River. The range varies in width from 5 to 19 miles and includes several peaks nearly 5,000 feet high. There are six primary mines scattered across the Salt Range and each produces unique, varied and distinct salts.
The Khewra Salt Mine (also sometimes called the Mayo Salt Mine) is the most well-known, largest and also the oldest in the Salt Range. It produces most of the salt we’ve come to know as Himalayan Salt with the range of light-to-dark pink coloring.
Established in the 1820s, this mine extends through 25 miles of tunnels across 18 working levels. A major tourist attraction, it draws nearly 300,000 visitors to Pakistan each year with its unique artistic salt carvings of famous monuments including miniature replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China as well as a small mosque and a bridge built entirely from salt blocks that extends over a salt brine pond.
The mine where SaltWorks sources Ancient Ocean is trade secret. We have built a strong relationship and have an exclusive partnership with a reputable and trusted mining company from whom we source all of our Himalayan Pink Salt. This salt vendor is registered with the FDA, in full compliance with the Bioterrorism Act of 2002, and shares our commitment to quality and high production standards. The mine is overseen by the Pakistan Mining Development Corporation which ensures that no child or slave labor is used and miners are provided fair wages, medical care and education.