Himalayan pink salt is widely recognized for its distinctive rosy appearance and diverse uses. This popularity often leads to a question: why is it frequently called “Himalayan sea salt,” a name that suggests an ocean connection despite its mountainous origin?
The Ancient Origins in the Himalayas
The origins of Himalayan pink salt stretch back hundreds of millions of years to an ancient body of water known as the Tethys Ocean. Around 600 to 800 million years ago, the region that now encompasses parts of Pakistan was submerged beneath this shallow, salty sea. High temperatures and low rainfall led to the gradual evaporation of its waters, leaving behind vast deposits of salt.
Over time, these salt beds were covered by layers of sediment and rock, preserving them deep within the Earth. The collision of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates, beginning approximately 50 to 70 million years ago, instigated the uplift that formed the Himalayan mountain range. This tectonic activity thrust the ancient seabed, with its encapsulated salt deposits, upward, incorporating them into the forming mountain range.
The primary source of this salt today is the Khewra Salt Mine, located in the Salt Range of Pakistan’s Punjab province, situated at the foothills of the Himalayas. This mine is considered the world’s second-largest salt mine and holds reserves estimated to be between 82 million and 600 million tons. The salt found here is a direct remnant of that prehistoric marine environment.
Unpacking the “Sea Salt” Label
Despite its common moniker, Himalayan pink salt is not harvested from active ocean waters like modern sea salt. It is technically a form of rock salt, specifically halite, mined from underground deposits. The salt’s formation involved the evaporation of an ancient sea, but it has been a solid mineral, encased within geological strata, for millions of years.
The “sea salt” descriptor likely stems from its ultimate ancient marine origin, connecting it to the natural, unrefined qualities often associated with sea salts. Marketing strategies also play a role, as the term “sea salt” can evoke images of purity and naturalness. This naming convention helps to differentiate it from highly processed table salt and aligns with perceptions of natural salt sources.
While its journey began in an ancient sea, Himalayan pink salt is extracted from dry land. It exists as a testament to geological forces that transformed a marine environment into a mountain range, rather than being a product of current oceanic evaporation.
The Unique Composition and Color
Himalayan pink salt’s distinctive pinkish hue is primarily due to the presence of trace minerals, particularly iron oxide. This compound, a form of iron similar to rust, is naturally embedded within the salt crystals and imparts shades ranging from pale pink to deep reddish-pink. The intensity of the color often correlates with the concentration of these minerals.
Beyond iron, Himalayan pink salt contains other trace minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These minerals contribute to its unique profile, though their quantities are typically small, amounting to about 2% of the salt’s composition, with sodium chloride making up the remaining 98%. This mineral content distinguishes it from common refined table salt, which is almost entirely sodium chloride and stripped of most natural minerals during processing.