Rock salt

The formation of rock salt often dates back millions of years. Remains of long-vanished and dried-up seas and salt lakes lie underground at depths of several hundred meters, forming rock salt deposits, also known as salt domes. They were formed when arms of the sea became separated from the oceans, through changes in sea level, and as a result of tectonic shifts. Salt has always been of great importance to people because it is essential for life. In mythology, it was therefore even regarded as a gift from the gods. Sharing bread and salt is a sign of friendship. But salt plays a role not only as an essential food component: It has always also been used to preserve perishable foods and thus protect against disease. Today, rock salt is also used for various industrial purposes.

Extraction and processing of rock salt

Rock salt stands in contrast to sea salt. The main difference between the two types of salt is how they are extracted and their age. Sea salt is “young” salt: It is repeatedly “harvested” in so-called salt pans, as the process of skimming it off is known. Seawater is passed through an extensive system of basins and channels, where sunlight causes the water to evaporate at the surface and the salt concentration steadily increases. Eventually, the crystalline salt can be removed from the surface. The highest-quality sea salt is the salt flower, sold as “Fleur de Sel”.
Our rock salt, by contrast, is “old” salt: it often lies in the earth, completely untouched by environmental influences, for several hundred years, waiting to be “mined.” Here’s how it works.

1. MINING

   Rock salt can be extracted in various ways. Salt from contaminated deposits—also known as salt domes in technical terminology—is extracted using so-called “wet mining.” However, the rock salt used in our BERTRAND products is high-quality, completely pure natural salt, so “dry mining” can be used. This is also referred to as underground mining because the process takes place below ground. Drilling and blasting methods are used to free the rock salt from the mountain in large blocks or chunks.

   DRILLING AND BLASTING METHODS ARE USED

2. CRUSHING

   To process the large chunks of salt further, the salt is first roughly broken into smaller pieces underground. Only then can it be transported to the surface using conveyor systems.

   THE SALT IS BROKEN INTO SMALLER PIECES

3. DRYING

   After extraction, drying is important for all types of salt. While sea salt is often still very moist, rock salt generally has a residual moisture content of less than 3 percent. High-quality rock salt should be as dry as possible so that it remains free-flowing without chemical additives (anti-caking agents).

   SHOULD BE AS DRY AS POSSIBLE

4. GRINDING

   Depending on the application, the rock salt is crushed into grains of different sizes. It passes through several grinding stages and is repeatedly sent through special sieves. This makes it possible to produce grain sizes ranging from 0.1 millimeters to 16 millimeters. The rock salt used in our products has a very fine grain size.

   DIFFERENT GRAIN SIZES

5. PACKAGING AND TRANSPORT

   Since salt is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture, packaging must be selected that is as environmentally friendly as possible while also ensuring that the product stays dry. It can then be stored in the packaging and ultimately transported to us.

   ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PACKAGING

Why rock salt?

The rock salt we use is highly pure, has not been chemically or mechanically processed, is not bleached, and contains no other added substances. Because it comes from underground deposits shielded from all external influences, no microplastics can get into the salt, as can happen with sea salt, for example. At BERTRAND, we add this completely natural product to our products because it is an essential part of our diet.

Chloride
Chloride is one of the most important electrolytes in the human body. It is a component of stomach acid and is therefore important for digestion. Chloride also helps defend against pathogens that enter the body through the stomach. Together with other factors, it helps maintain a balanced acid-base balance. In the human body, chloride is largely bound to sodium.

Sodium
Together with potassium, the alkali metal sodium is responsible for transmitting nerve impulses. This means that muscle contractions, including those of the heart, are also regulated by it. Blood pressure regulation is also connected to this. Sodium activates a large number of enzymes, which in turn perform numerous tasks in the body. It also transmits electrical impulses to cell walls. Above all, together with potassium, it regulates the body’s water balance. A deficiency is associated with muscle cramps, an increased pulse, apathy, and low blood pressure. Since sodium is excreted in sweat, particularly through heavy sweating, it is important to ensure sufficient intake in summer and after exercising.

Potassium
Like sodium, potassium is an alkali metal. Potassium regulates the body’s water balance. It is also involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. Potassium is highly bioavailable, with more than 90 percent being absorbed by the body. However, a deficiency can cause serious problems, such as impaired heart function, muscle weakness leading to paralysis, and intestinal obstruction.

The role of salt in our body