Bergsalt

Bergsalt, literally meaning "rock salt" in Swedish, refers to the mineral halite, the natural form of sodium chloride (NaCl). It is formed by the evaporation of saline waters and is mined from underground deposits or extracted by solution mining. The term is used primarily in Swedish and in some Northern European languages to distinguish mined rock salt from evaporated sea salt.

Rock salt consists mainly of halite with impurities such as calcium sulfate, clay, or trace minerals that can affect color and texture. It forms in sedimentary evaporite deposits created when ancient seas or saline lakes evaporated and left behind thick layers of salt. Over time these beds are buried and may be subjected to tectonic processes, forming accessible ore bodies or salt domes.

Mining and production typically occur through open-pit mining or underground mining of salt beds, or via solution mining where water is injected to dissolve the salt and the brine is pumped to the surface. The crude salt is then processed to remove impurities, dried, and ground. For table use some bergsalt is iodized and packaged as food-grade salt; other grades are used for de-icing, chemical feedstock, or water treatment.

Global distribution includes major salt deposits in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. In many countries, rock salt production complements or replaces sea salt imports. The term bergsalt thus covers both traditional culinary salt derived from mined rock and industrial-grade salt used in various applications.