What are Evaporative salts?

Evaporative salts also called salts of crystallization, are mineral deposits that form when water containing dissolved minerals evaporates. Evaporation causes the water to become more concentrated, and when the concentration reaches a certain level, the minerals begin to precipitate out of the water and form crystals.

Evaporative salts are commonly found in arid and semi-arid environments, where the air is hot and dry and the water evaporates quickly. They can also be found in coastal areas, where seawater is evaporated by the sun. Evaporative salts are important sources of minerals and are often used in the chemical and fertilizer industries.

Some common types of evaporative salts include:

Calcite: A carbonate mineral that is the main component of limestone and marble. Calcite is also used in the production of cement and fertilizer.

Dolomite: A carbonate mineral that is similar to calcite but also contains magnesium. Dolomite is used in the production of cement, fertilizer, and glass.

Gypsum: A sulphate mineral that is used in the production of plaster, wallboard, and fertilizer.

Halite: A chloride mineral that is common salt. Halite is used in the production of food, water treatment, and pharmaceuticals.

Epsom salt: A sulphate mineral that is used as a laxative, a fertilizer, and in cosmetics.

Evaporative salts can also be found in water bodies, where they can form crusts or even islands. The Dead Sea in Jordan and Israel is a well-known example of a salt lake that contains a high concentration of evaporative salts. The Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA is another example of a salt lake that contains evaporative salts.