Table of Contents
Quick answer
Solution mining dissolves underground salt with water, pumps brine to the surface, and recovers salt by evaporation or chemicals. It targets deep halite efficiently.
A salt extraction method where water is pumped into underground salt deposits to dissolve the salt. The resulting brine is pumped to the surface and evaporated to recover the salt. More efficient than traditional mining for deep deposits.
Solution mining pumps water into underground salt deposits to dissolve halite and form brine. The brine returns to the surface for evaporation or chemical processing. It suits deep beds where conventional mining costs too much.
In Practice
US Gulf operators solution-mine dome salt to feed chlor-alkali plants. Some Himalayan operations experiment with controlled brine extraction where geology allows.