Himalayan rock salt is primarily mined from ancient salt deposits located in Pakistan.
Detailed Origin of Himalayan Rock Salt
Contrary to its name, Himalayan salt doesn't come directly from the highest peaks of the Himalayas. Instead, it is mined from the Salt Range mountains. This mountain range is situated at the southern edge of a geological feature known as a fold-and-thrust belt, which underlies the Pothohar Plateau in Pakistan, specifically south of the main Himalayan range.
The salt itself originates from a very old geological formation called the Salt Range Formation. This formation consists of a thick layer of Ediacaran to early Cambrian evaporites. In simpler terms, these are ancient salt deposits formed over millions of years through the evaporation of prehistoric seas, dating back to the Ediacaran and early Cambrian periods of geological time.
Mining operations extract this salt from these vast, ancient underground deposits within the Salt Range mountains.
Here's a summary of the key details about its origin:
| Origin Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Primary Location | Salt Range mountains |
| Geographical Area | Southern edge of a fold-and-thrust belt, Pothohar Plateau |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Geological Source | Thick layer of Ediacaran to early Cambrian evaporites (ancient salt) |
| Geological Layer | Salt Range Formation |
| Method of Access | Mined from underground deposits |
This specific geological history and location are what make the Salt Range mountains the source of this distinctive pink-hued salt commonly referred to as "Himalayan" salt.
