Salt
Crystal Products from the Himalayas
Salt crystal products can
come from various sources around the globe, but the finest quality
salt comes from certain areas and mines within the Himalayan foothills
of Pakistan. Discovery of this salt was made around 327 B.C., in
the time of Alexander the Great and this material has a long and
storied history ranging from a source of bitter warfare to a form
of currency and much more. In 1872, the British Empire began industrial
mining following the excavation of a main arterial tunnel, directed
by Dr. H Warth, a respected British mining engineer. The tunnel
allowed direct, easy access to salt deposits and increased production.
Today,
there are four major salt crystal mines in Pakistan:
- Khewra Salt Mines
The oldest and largest salt mine in the entire region, Khewra
is also a popular tourist attraction. There are over 25
miles of developed length, combining all 18 working
levels and divergent tunnels. The salt crystal in this mine
varies from dark red, reddish, pink, white, and even transparent.
There are places within the mine with stunning bands of alternating
colors that, of course, only Nature can create. The thickness
of the whole salt layer is cumulatively 150m, between seven
individual strata of salt crystal layered in an asymmetrical
dome-type of structure. While mining, half of the salt is
left as pillars within the many chambers; known as "room-and-pillar" method.
Unfortunately, the Khewra mining process involves using explosives,
which both causes numerous accidents and safety issues; also
destroys the crystalline integrity of the crystal and disrespects
the environment. Even more, working and living conditions
for miners and their families here are notoriously awful.
- Kalabagh Salt Mines
The
Kalabagh mines are found along the Indus River, near the village
known as Wanda Kukranwala. One will find 13 different types
of salt strata, all colors in various shades. Room-and-pillar
method mining is still manually done here
with some individual chambers more than than 260 feet in depth!
This also happens to be our primary source mine.
- Warcha Salt Mines
The salt deposit in this mine is very crystalline and transparent,
making it very popular for fine, edible, flowing salt used
for cooking and dining. This occurs as another dome-like
structure, although broken, and the salt crystal is white
and pink for the most part. Room-and-pillar mining method
used here too.
- Jatta/Bahadurkheil Salt Mines
The Jatta salt mines are the youngest of our quartet. According
to the geological horizon, it dates to the Tertiary period
(26 to 66 million years ago), however there is still some
debate to it's exact time of formation. The salt of this
mine ranges from white to light/dark gray. These are often
considered blue in color; and as lamps, these emit less light
due to density and color; appearing in varied shades of blue,
green, white, and yellow.
Coloring of salt crystal is allopathic and determined by mineral
content. Red is created by iron, yellow is from magnesium. It
is the mixture of these which creates our lamps' orange, fiery
colors; as well as pale yellows, soft peach, and apricot shades
with inclusion of more white/transparent crystal. Our salt crystal
has excellent transparency, something very few sellers offer
- though claim otherwise. Increased transparency makes for vibrant,
rich color in a salt lamp, whether on or off.
The Human Source: From their hands
to ours...
The mine workers and craftspeople
are all masters in their trade, and all receive the top-notch salaries
and health benefits. Children and under-age workers are never hired
to cut costs. Mining by hand is both painstaking and expensive,
but such natural power should be intact for optimal energy levels,
rather than using dynamite and what seems remarkably like "labor
camps" for higher
production output; output levels reached at the expense of product
quality and human safety.
Our miners, who daily make the
journey of up to 1500 meters into the earth to bring forth this
planet's most potent mineral,, are as healthy as can be. It is
indeed their livelihood that also keeps them very healthy and youthful,
and many continue the back-breaking hand-mining work well into
their sixties. These people have never been ill
and have never visited a doctor. Salt mining in this region is
often a family-oriented business, having been passed down through
the generations for hundreds of years..possibly longer.
Prices vary with these lamps on
the Internet. This is based on quality of the salt mine and reputation
of the manufacturer. Cheaper import prices are usually available
for rock salt crystal originating from areas of Europe, Africa,
the Middle East, and Asia. These lamps are quite appealing as well;
but, in our opinion, do not compare in quality.
It was great fortune for us to
partner with a smaller mining/manufacturing company that has a
superior level of quality salt crystal rock; because we're now
aware of exporters who do not differentiate with salt quality and
focus on the "good price", instead
of using an electrical switch that works beyond a month or so...
using brass or galvanized screws since salt attracts moisture which
corrodes untreated hardware.
We keep high standards on what
is placed in our cargo containers, our friends and suppliers overseas
know this. There is no compromising with quality, which is why
every lamp and electical cord is inspected and tested prior to
being bagged, boxed, and sailing the ocean blue. Our rejects are
left over and eventually head for another companies' container..
Be sure of who you are buying from and the original source of salt
crystal.
To borrow from Lee
Iacocca: If you can find a better salt crystal, buy
it.
In our experience, Himalayan salt crystal has an energy, color,
and translucency that surpasses what is mined elsewhere in world.
Furthermore, the level of quality in the Himalayan salt crystal
products we receive from overseas is peerless and superior to what
you will likely find anywhere else or from any other sources. |