Morton Salt Factory - Grantsville, Utah
Posted by: Lord Mot
N 40° 42.511 W 112° 30.593
12T E 372456 N 4507496
Located off Interstate 80 on Solar Road
Waymark Code: WMBV1K
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 06/21/2011
Views: 14
Grantsville Plant:
In 1991 Morton purchased the North American Salt Company plant near Grantsville, Utah. Using 15,000 acres of evaporation ponds, Morton continues to produce and distribute varying grades of salt for human and livestock consumption, water softening, and deicing.
The Grantsville Plant produces Solar Salt, which is the oldest method of salt production. It has been used since salt crystals were first noticed in trapped pools of sea water. Its use is practical only in warm climates where the evaporation rate exceeds the precipitation rate, either annually or for extended periods, and ideally, where there are steady prevailing winds. Solar salt production is, typically, the capturing of salt water in shallow ponds where the sun evaporates most of the water. The concentrated brine precipitates the salt which is then gathered by mechanical harvesting machines. Any impurities that may be present in the brine are drained off and discarded prior to harvesting.
Usually two types of ponds are used. First is the concentrating pond, where the salty water from the ocean or salt lake is concentrated. The second is called the crystallizing pond, where the salt is actually produced.
Crystallizing ponds range from to 40 to 200 acres with a foot-thick floor of salt resulting from years of depositions. During the salt-making season of four to five months, brine flows continuously through these ponds. This is a saturated brine solution, containing as much salt as it can hold, so pure salt crystallizes out of the solution as the water evaporates. Natural chemical impurities are returned to the salt water source.
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