कला
सुन्दरता र कल्याण
हस्तकला
संस्कृति र इतिहास
मनोरञ्जन
वातावरण
खाना र पेय
रिभर्स इन्जिनियरिङ
विज्ञान
खेलकुद
प्रविधि
पहिर्न मिल्ने
English
Extracting Pink Salt from Khewra Salt Mine — Pakistan's Natural Mountain Salt
The Khewra Salt Mine located in Punjab Province, Pakistan is the world's second largest salt mine. This blueprint describes the complete method of extracting natural pink mountain salt. This salt was formed approximately 600 million years ago from the evaporation of an ancient inland sea. This guidebook includes all stages from identifying salt veins, hand-pick extraction with spades, mechanical drilling, block extraction, sorting by color, crushing, washing, grading, and storage. The Khewra mine uses the "room and pillar" method in which 50 percent of the salt remains in pillars to support the
मध्यम
Full day operation
निर्देशनहरू
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Understanding the Geology of Khewra Salt Mine
Understanding the Geology of Khewra Salt Mine
The Khewra Salt Mine is located in the Salt Range mountain chain in Jhelum District, Punjab, Pakistan. The salt deposits here were formed approximately 600 million years ago during the Precambrian/Ediacaran period when an ancient inland sea evaporated. The mine has 11 levels (6 underground) and tunnels extend approximately 730 meters into the mountain. According to tradition, the soldiers of Alexander the Great discovered it in 326 BC when their horses were licking the salt rocks.
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Safety Preparation
Safety Preparation
Underground mining is dangerous work. Before entering the mine, it is essential to wear complete safety equipment: hard helmet (with head lamp), safety goggles, gloves, safety boots (steel toe), and a dust protection mask. Check the mine ventilation system. Inspect the structural integrity of the tunnel. Learn the emergency exits and tools. Never enter the mine alone.
यस चरणका सामग्री:
Dust Protection Mask1 टुक्रा
Heavy-Duty Work Gloves1 pairचाहिने औजार:
Hard Hat with Head Lamp
Safety Goggles
Steel-Toed Safety Boots3
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Identifying Salt Veins
Identifying Salt Veins
Salt in the Khewra mine is found in different colors: white, pink, red, and transparent. The pink color is due to trace amounts of iron oxide (Fe2O3). The salt contains 96-98 percent sodium chloride (NaCl), with the remainder including minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron. The best veins are those where the salt is clear, uniform in color, and has minimal soil or other contamination. Experienced miners assess the thickness, direction, and quality of the vein.
चाहिने औजार:
Geological Pick Hammer4
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Extracting Salt by Hand with a Pick
Extracting Salt by Hand with a Pick
In the traditional method, miners use a heavy pick and chisel. First, find cracks and natural joints in the salt vein. Strike the salt rock with the pick to free large blocks. Strike along the natural cracks, not against them. This method yields large, unbroken blocks which are more valuable. Traditional hand mining is still used alongside modern methods today.
चाहिने औजार:
Mining Pick (Heavy-Duty)
Steel Chisel
Sledgehammer (3-5 kg)5
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Mechanical Drilling
Mechanical Drilling
Modern extraction methods use mechanical drills. Holes are drilled in the salt wall according to a specific pattern. The drill bits are specially designed for salt rock. The depth and spacing of holes depends on the thickness of the salt vein. Sometimes limited use of explosives is made to free large sections — but this work is done only by trained blasters. In the room and pillar method, 50 percent of the salt must be left as pillars to support the ceiling.
चाहिने औजार:
Pneumatic Rock Drill6
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Extracting Salt Blocks
Extracting Salt Blocks
Salt blocks freed by drilling or picking are completely separated using lever bars and wedges. Large blocks can weigh 50-200 kilograms. They are carefully lowered to avoid breaking — intact blocks are more valuable. Smaller pieces are also collected. The blocks are placed by hand into mine carts and taken out of the tunnel.
चाहिने औजार:
Steel Lever Bar
Steel Wedges
Mine Cart7
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Initial Sorting by Color
Initial Sorting by Color
Salt extracted from the mine is immediately sorted by color: white (purest, 98%+ NaCl), light pink (most popular), dark pink, red (highest iron content), and transparent (rare). Each color has a different value. Pink salt is in highest demand in the international market. Pieces with soil or other contamination are separated out.
चाहिने औजार:
Sorting Table8
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Breaking Salt
Breaking Salt
Large blocks are broken to the desired size. On an industrial scale, a jaw crusher is used. On a small scale, they are broken by hand with a hammer and chisel. Different sizes for different purposes: large pieces (for lamp making), medium pieces (for cooking), fine grains (table salt). Wear a dust protection mask during breaking.
चाहिने औजार:
Sledgehammer (3-5 kg)Steel Chisel9
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Washing
Washing
Khewra salt is washed minimally — this is its greatest virtue because unrefined salt retains its natural minerals. Only a brief wash is done to remove soil, stone particles, and other non-salt contamination. The salt is washed in brine (saturated salt water), not fresh water — fresh water would dissolve the salt. Dry immediately after washing.
यस चरणका सामग्री:
Brine Solution (Saturated Salt Water)20 लिटरचाहिने औजार:
Large Washing Basin10
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Grading
Grading
After washing and drying, the salt is graded. Food grade salt: clean, pure color, free from soil. Industrial grade salt: less pure in color and food-grade quality. Decorative grade salt: large, beautiful pieces for lamps and decoration. The Khewra mine produces approximately 385,000 tons of salt annually, while total estimated reserves are 6.687 billion tons.
चाहिने औजार:
Sorting Table
Kitchen Scale11
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Packing
Packing
Prepare the graded salt for packing. Fill food-grade salt into clean, dry, food-grade bags. Wrap large blocks (for lamps or decoration) individually in soft paper so they do not break during transport. Write the weight, grade, and date on each bag. Jute sacks or large bags are used for commercial shipments.
यस चरणका सामग्री:
Food-Grade Packaging Bag10 टुक्रा
Soft Wrapping Paper (for blocks)5 पाना
Paper Labels10 टुक्राचाहिने औजार:
Kitchen Scale12
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Storage
Storage
Store salt in a dry, cool place. Salt absorbs moisture (hygroscopic), so protection from moisture is very important. Relative humidity should be below 60 percent. Place salt on pallets above the ground so that floor moisture does not reach it. Storing in airtight containers keeps salt safe for years. Salt has no expiry date — it is a mineral deposit millions of years old — but proper storage maintains its dryness and cleanliness.
यस चरणका सामग्री:
Airtight Storage Container1 टुक्रा
Wooden Pallet1 टुक्रासामग्री
8- 1 टुक्राप्लेसहोल्डर
- 1 pairप्लेसहोल्डर
- प्लेसहोल्डर
- 10 टुक्राप्लेसहोल्डर
- 5 पानाप्लेसहोल्डर
- 10 टुक्राप्लेसहोल्डर
- 1 टुक्राप्लेसहोल्डर
- 1 टुक्राप्लेसहोल्डर
आवश्यक उपकरणहरू
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CC0 सार्वजनिक डोमेन
यो ब्लुप्रिन्ट CC0 अन्तर्गत जारी गरिएको छ। तपाईं अनुमति नसोधी प्रतिलिपि, परिमार्जन, वितरण र प्रयोग गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ।
ब्लुप्रिन्ट मार्फत उत्पादनहरू किनेर सिर्जनाकर्तालाई सहयोग गर्नुहोस् सिर्जनाकर्ता कमिसन विक्रेताले तोकेको, वा यो ब्लुप्रिन्टको नयाँ संस्करण बनाउनुहोस् र आम्दानी बाँड्न आफ्नो ब्लुप्रिन्टमा जडानको रूपमा समावेश गर्नुहोस्।