13.7 Solution Mining for Salt
Solution mining of salt or halite deposits is just like it
sounds. Fresh and recycled water is injected through
a well (or wells) drilled into an underground salt bed,
usually between 150 and 1,500 meters (500 to 5000
feet) deep. Dissolution of the salt forms a void or
cavern in the salt deposit. Salt brine is withdrawn
from the cavern and transported by pipeline to an on
site evaporating plant to make dry salt, or to a
chemical processing plant for chlor-alkali or other
chemical production. Solution mines located at the
site of chemical plants are called captive brine wells.