Re: Salt Mining Question

Hi, Leigh,

        Thanks for your interesting questions.

        First, looking at paragenesis of KNO3 (saltpeter) and NaCl, or 
"salt".

        Salt, is formed by evaporation of ancient seas that became 
landlocked or similar circumstances like lagoons and reefs.

        Saltpeter, on the other hand, generally forms from evaporites 
from water which has leached the nitrates out of sedimentary rocks -- 
salt-peter being very soluble.  It's usually found in arid regions.  
The nitrogen in sediments is usually biological in origin.

        Because they taste quite different, I doubt that they could be 
accidently mistaken, one for the other.

        And then too, saltpeter has rhombohedral or trigonal crystals, 
so it wouldn't be the nice tidy cubes of NaCl.

        And they really seldom, if ever, occur in the same sort of 
places in meaningful concentrations of both -- seawater, for example, 
contains nearly 10,000 times more Cl than NO3.

        Thanks for the good question.

        Basil

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] says...
> Hello.
> 
> I tried to research this on the Web, but I'm having trouble finding
> the answer to my rather specific questions, so I thought I'd see if
> anyone in here could help me.
> 
> What I am concerned with specifically is salt mining as opposed to
> saltpeter mining.
> 
> I know that they are not the same thing, but my impression from what I
> have read is that they often occur naturally in the same kinds of
> places, and are therefore often mined together.
> 
> Is this correct, or am I totally off base?
> 
> I'm also curious to know whether it would have been possible in "olden
> days" to have mistaken one for the other.
> 
> Thanks in advance for your help.
> 
>