S A L T. 





England. 

 France. 



Most, or perhaps all our brine springs are original or 

 primary sources. Sources are of two kin-U : 



I. Those which rise immediately over the bed im- 

 pregnating the water, or from n stratum immediate- 

 ly comifcted with it, though perhaps at some distance 

 from the fossil. 



_'. Those which rise from a collection of salt water 

 made in a stratum not immediately connected with the 

 impregnating mineral. 



it it not essential that a spring should rise immedi- 

 ately over a mineral charging its waters ; because, after 

 being impregnated, it may flow over an impervious 

 stratum, as grauwacke, for example, and ri^e at a very 

 considerable distance pure and valuable brine ; it is 

 still a primary source. But a body of water flowing 

 over salt, or any other mineral, and oozing through 

 different strata, until it reach?* one that it cannot per- 

 colate, and then it follows it till, from some cause, (in 

 what manner it matters not,) it rises to day, is a se- 

 condary source ; because it neither rises over the mi- 

 neral, or any stratum immediately connected with it. 



In mountainous countries, particularly, this is a sub- 

 ject of much importance, as the hopes of success are 

 founded upon permanent sources, which the secondary 

 never are, being liable to be diverted from their pre- 

 sent channels by slight obstacles, and to rise in other 

 places. Some of the saline*; in Switzerland are worked 

 on this principle of sources, and it often happens that a 

 vein of water is intercepted, and leaves the brine spring 

 dry. 



At Halle, in Germany, and at many other places, 

 mines are worked by cutting parallel galleries in the 

 parent rock, and forming dykes, to turn water into 

 them, M here it remains until saturated. It is then 

 drawn elF and evaporated. In most cases judgment 

 and experience are necessary in drawing water from 

 >alt pit?, whether natural or artificial, where it reposes 

 immediately on the salt. As the stratum of saturated 

 water next the salt has an increased specific gravity, 

 and will remain at the bottom, preventing the great 

 volume of water from coming in contact with the mi- 

 neral to be saturated in its turn, it is necessary to keep 

 the water in motion. Experience has proved the great 

 utility of this expedient, which will saturate the water 

 in a much more expeditious and effectual manner than 

 by allowing it to remain at rest." 



3. Rook Salt Mines. 



Native rock salt, or fossil salt, is found in most coun- 

 tries of Eilrope, and also in every quarter of the globe. 



The ancients seem to have been acquainted with 

 rock salt. It is probable that the columns of fossil glass, 

 in which Herodotus informs us the Abyssinians enclosed 

 their mummies, were masses of rock salt which existed 

 in the country. Herodotus likewise informs us, that 

 the Lybians built their houses with it ; and Pliny states 

 that the Arabians did the same, cementing the whole 

 by sprinkling water upon it 



In England, beds of from twenty to thirty yard's 

 thick are found in Cheshire, and which we have gene- 

 rally described under that article, Vol. VI. p. 16'7. 



In France, native rock salt has been recently (in 

 1819) discovered at Vic, in the department of 3Ieu"rthe, 

 and also in the department of the Vosges, associated 

 with gypsum, clay, and sandstone. At Vic there were 

 six distinct strata of very fine rock salt from three to 

 fourteen inches, and at a depth of from (Jo to 104 



Simond's Switzerland, voL r. p. 18. 



metre*. Such, however, is the condition of Franc*, **' 

 that no use has yet been made of this mineral trea- ^'~ 

 sure.* 



Spain possesses the celebrated rock salt mountain st 

 Cordova, in Catalonia, and it is said it has also been 

 lately discovered in the Pyrenees. At Cordovi, about 

 eight-tenths of the mountain, which i 300 feet high, 

 consists of rock salt. The surface of the mountain is 

 destitute of vegetation and the mountain itself is com- 

 posed of vertical and generally parallel beds of thirk 

 salt, clay aii'l gypsum alternating with each other. The 

 salt is sometimes transparent, but most frequently it 

 occurs in translucent masses, consisting of small grey- 

 ish white, or reddish granular concretion*. The country 

 around this mountain consists of micaceous sandstone, 

 argillnceops slate, and compact limestone. 



This formation seems to be an independent one, in 

 a valley a league in circumference, the surface of which 

 is covered with vegetable soil. At one end of it is a 

 promontory of red salt f)60 feet high, without crevice*, 

 chasms, or strata. It is said to be about a league in 

 circumference, and equal in height to the surrounding 

 mountains. 



At Ln M.-mcha, in Spain, there is a similar mass of 

 salt 210 feet in diameter, which is mixed with and co- 

 vered by sulphate of lime, including crystals of red 

 quartz. 



Near the river Ebro, there is a chain of hills stretch- 

 ing from eat to west, and consisting of salt, sulphate 

 of lime, and limestone. 



In Germany there are many masses of rock salt, knn*r.jf. 

 namely, in Upper Austria, Styria, Bavaria,t Wurtem- 

 berg, Salzburg, and the Tyrol. The salt mines of the 

 Tyrol are situated in a mountain, and they are wrought 

 by excavating galleries, and introducing fresh water, 

 which is allowed to remain till it is saturated. 



In Hungary and Poland, there seems to be an im- Hurgry 

 mense deposite of rock salt on both sides of the Carpa- and I 

 thian mountains. An account of the Hungarian masses 

 will be found under our article HUNGARY, Vol. XI. 

 p. 357, and of those of Wielitska, near Cracow, in Po- 

 land, under our article POLAND, Vol. XVI. p. 735. 



Near Ockna, in Moldavia, there is a mountain of 

 rock salt, which in many places is not even covered 

 with the soil. 



In Transylvania, the bottom and sides of the valley 

 of Paraid, consist of solid salt exposed to view, and it 

 rrses in several precipices to the height of more than 

 200 feet. 



In Italy rock salt is found at Altamonte, in Calabria. 

 In Caratnania, in Asiatic Turkey, the rock salt is so Tt; 

 hard, and the air so dry, that, we are informed by 

 Chardin, it is employed in the construction of build- 

 ings. 



The whole island of Ormuz, in the Persian Gulf, 

 is said to be a solid mass of fossil salt. 



In Caubul, the rock salt rises in a cliff more, than 

 100 feet above the river. It is hard, tran>parent, and 

 almost pure, and the road is cut through it. In some 

 places it is streaked of a. blood red colour, like the 

 earth in the neighbourhood. 



In Africa, rock salt is abundantly distributed. It is 

 found in Tunis and Algiers, and in the mountains 

 which bound the desert of Lybia on the north, is an 

 immense plain covered with common salt 



Near Jibbel Had-deffa, in Tunis, there is an entire 

 mountain of salt, situated at the eastern extremity ct 



f See BAVAHIA, Vol. III. p. 353. 



A f ri - Pt> 



" 



