Salt is composed of two elements: sodium and chloride (NaCl). Both elements are not manufactured by the body, so must be supplied by the diet. It is the only family of rocks that humans consume. Salt is necessary to sustain human life. Sodium is necessary for the transport of nutrients and oxygen around the body, to transmit nerve messages and to move muscles (including the heart). Chloride is essential for digestion and respiration. Salt is one of the four primary elements of taste (the others are sweet, sour and bitter). All salt comes from the sea. Even inland salt deposits were once prehistoric oceans, isolated by rising land masses. The three primary methods for producing salt are; solar evaporation (the most popular method used in Australia and the process for all SAXA products), deep-shaft mining, and solution mining. Solar Salt Production (solar evaporation): Salt is produced by allowing the sun to evaporate sea water in shallow pools or 'pans'. Rock Salt Mining: This is an underground mining process in which the salt is physically dug out of the ground in an operation involving drilling, blasting and crushing the rock. The major percentage of this output is used for industrial purposes. Solution Mining: Water is pumped into underground rock salt deposits to produce fully saturated brine, which is then pumped back to the surface, and evaporated under vacuum. Download NOW! Follow our easy to use children's guide to How Salt is produced in Australia by clicking the Download NOW! link.