soolatarbimist

Salt extraction, or soolatarbimine in Estonian, is the extraction and production of salt from natural sources. Salt occurs as halite in rock formations or dissolved as brine in subterranean reservoirs and in seawater. The two main production methods are rock-salt mining and solar evaporation of brine.

Rock-salt mining accesses underground deposits through mines or quarries. Methods include room-and-pillar mining and solution mining, where water is injected to dissolve salt and brine is pumped to the surface. Crude salt is then crushed, washed, and refined to meet market specifications.

Brine-based production uses evaporation of salty water from seawater or brine wells. Evaporation can be solar, using ponds and ambient heat, or driven by industrial heaters. As the water concentrates, salt crystals form, are harvested, washed, and dried.

Uses: The principal product is edible salt (sodium chloride) for food preparation and preservation. Salt is also a major industrial feedstock for chemical production (chlorine and caustic soda), water treatment, de-icing, and various manufacturing processes.

History and regulation: Salt has long been a valuable resource shaping trade and settlement. Today production is governed by mining, environmental, and health-safety regulations.

Environmental considerations: Mining and evaporation require energy and water. Potential impacts include land disturbance, brine discharge, and habitat effects; modern operations implement environmental management plans and monitoring to mitigate these effects.