Saltkilder

Saltkilder, meaning "salt sources," are places and processes from which salt is obtained or occurs naturally. The term includes natural occurrences such as seawater, salt springs and underground brines, and mineral deposits like halite in sedimentary rocks, as well as human-made sources and methods used to extract, refine, and distribute salt. It also covers uses in agriculture and wildlife nutrition, where animals seek mineral sources called salt licks or salt blocks.

Natural salt sources include seawater, the largest reservoir of sodium chloride. In arid regions, evaporation ponds concentrate seawater until halite crystals form for harvesting as sea salt. Underground deposits formed by ancient seas yield rock salt, and salt domes or evaporite beds hold substantial reserves. Salt springs and brine wells bring dissolved salts to the surface and may be tapped for mineral salts.

Production and use: Salt is produced by solar evaporation, mining of rock salt, or brine extraction, followed by purification and often iodization for nutrition. Refined salt is used for food, water treatment, and industry; coarse salt is used for de-icing; and large quantities support chemical manufacturing.

Health and environment: Salt is essential in small amounts but excess intake is linked to health problems such as hypertension. Diets high in processed foods can raise intake. Mining and brine discharge can affect landscapes and freshwater ecosystems, and road salt can raise soil and water salinity.

Salt licks: In wildlife and agriculture, salt licks or blocks provide sodium and minerals, supporting animals in mineral-poor habitats or during growth and lactation.