Himalayan pink salt is crystal salt mined in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. Its name was derived from the word Himalayan, meaning "submissive". These crystal salt deposits are quite rare because the soil is so high that the crystals cannot be mined easily. Although the salt can be depleted, it does not lose its crystals over time. Himalayan salt has been used by people from ancient times all the way up to the 20th century, and it continues to be popular for various reasons. Most consumers use Himalayan salt to season their foods and cook with, but the salt also has many other uses.
Himalayan salt has a wide variety of uses in modern society, and it has become a very desirable mineral content in salt shakers and salt pans, among other products. The salt is used mainly for its color and texture, but the fact that it is naturally deformed makes it even more beautiful to look at. It has a soft pinkish-brown color when it is new and crystal clear when it is aged, but many salt users like the look of the old salt on their fingertips. Himalayan salt can be found in many health and natural food stores, but it is widely available online.
Because of the scarcity of mined salt in the Himalayan Mountains, many people have turned to synthesized Himalayan salt. Much of the salt manufactured today come from land mines around the world. Because of the mine conditions in the Himalayan Mountains, most of the salt manufactured there is near perfect. In addition, the mineworkers who mined the salt live in extreme conditions, and this contributes to the longevity of the crystals. Because of these factors, Himalayan salt can take on many different colors from pink to dark blue.
Although most Himalayan salts are mined from the Himalayan Mountains, this isn't where all of the salt ends. When Himalayan salt becomes purified, most of the minerals are filtered out, and only the color is left. Because many Himalayan minerals like zinc, selenium, magnesium, and iron are toxic to humans, the manufacturers of Himalayan salt leave out any trace of these minerals so that the salt can be used as an alternative mineral source.
To make up for the lack of naturally occurring trace minerals in Himalayan salt, many manufacturers opt for synthetic products. Synthetic Himalayan salt can come from a number of different places. Some come from India, others come from Pakistan and China. Since Pakistan and China both have abundant mines, it is very likely that any Himalayan salt coming from either country will contain a small amount of mercury. Some Himalayan salt collectors have been known to test samples of Himalayan pink salt they buy and have discovered that trace amounts of mercury have been found.
Even though the manufacture of Himalayan salt can take place only in countries that have access to the mountains, the Pakistani government has put restrictions on the importation of foreign products into the country. It is possible that some of these imported products might contain elements from depleted mines in the country. Since many people in Pakistan and China buy salt in order to add it to their food, any exposure to mercury or other toxic heavy metals could be detrimental to their health.
The largest mining area for Himalayan salt mines is located in northern Pakistan, in the upper reaches of the Karam Jan district. This mine was first opened in 1959 and is the largest of all the mines in Pakistan, it produces more than twenty million pounds of salt every year. The other mines in the area have lower production but do not produce as much income. Many people, including mine workers, live in poverty because there is no investment incentive for them. The lack of proper infrastructure has impeded business for both local and foreign investors.
A variety of gemstones and agates have been found in Himalayan salt mines, including hematite, agate, peridot, tanzanite, beryl, boron, and even in pink. Some of these gemstones have very high color temperatures, such as pink (which is the rarest), while others have very low temperatures, such as black. Because the production and processing of Himalayan salt involve very high temperatures, this adds another level of processing costs to the product. Unfortunately, many of these pink gemstones are very expensive and hard to come by. However, the relatively few consumers who can afford them tend to demand the highest quality, leaving behind the lower quality stones.
