Tag: Evaporite minerals

Potassium is the seventh most abundant element in the Earth's crust, but pure potassium sulfate ($K_2SO_4$) is rare and typically found mixed with other minerals. The natural sources of potassium sulfate are primarily found in massive underground evaporite deposits and concentrated salt lake brines.

Over 77% of the mineral matter in evaporated seawater is sodium chloride. This chemical compound is the basis for the mineral halite, the scientific name for what is more commonly known as rock salt. Its distinctive salty taste is its most recognizable characteristic, and it is the primary mineral responsible for the saltiness we experience every day.

Halite, the mineral name for sodium chloride (NaCl), is the definitive answer to what mineral would taste like salt. This soft, transparent mineral is literally the same chemical compound as the seasoning in your shaker, formed naturally by geological processes.

Potassium is the seventh most abundant element in the Earth's continental crust. A wide variety of minerals contain potassium, with the most common being potassium feldspars and micas. These minerals are vital sources of potassium for both industrial uses and for enriching the soil to support plant growth.