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Coarse Sea Salt from Clay Brine-Pits in the Sun, Ure 1839
In warm countries the sun alone makes salt from the sea. Andrew Ure (1839): dig shallow pits with smooth clay bottoms by the shore, let sea water settle in a deeper reservoir, then lead it slowly through the pits. When the brine turns reddish, salt crystals form and sink; rake them out and leave them on the banks to drain and dry.
The picture: raking salt in the brine-pits at Marakkanam, India.
Beginner
A summer
Instructions
1
1
Dig the pits
Dig the pits
Along the shore, dig a deeper settling reservoir on the sea side and, behind it, a row of shallow pits divided by low banks. Line the pit floors with clay trodden smooth.
Tools needed:
Shovel
Clay2
2
Let the sea in
Let the sea in
In spring, fill the reservoir with sea water and let the mud settle. Feed the clear water into the pits, letting it wind through them as it evaporates; top up from the reservoir.
Materials for this step:
Seawater1000 litersTools needed:
Metal Bucket
Hydrometer3
3
Watch for the salt
Watch for the salt
When the brine begins to turn reddish, salt is about to form: a skin appears on the surface, breaks and sinks as crystals.
Tools needed:
Hydrometer4
4
Rake and dry
Rake and dry
Rake the crystals into heaps on the banks to drain and dry, then basket them up and weigh them.
Tools needed:
Wooden Rake
Bamboo Basket
Balance Scale5
5
Salt from your seawater
Salt from your seawater
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Tools Required
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