Salt works Photos

Salt Producing operation near Guerrero Negro, BajaThis page is not an advertisement for ESSA nor supported by either Mitsubishi or the Mexican Government. This is an information page, part of The Gray Whale Advocate web site. I've put these photos on the website because the salt production is an important issue that isn't understood by most Americans. They've been misled by various self serving "not for profit" groups into believing that the salt operation threatens the whale. These photos show some of the actual operation. Nowhere do you see a whale, nor do you see the lagoon. The vast majority of this operation takes place separated from the lagoon. There are only a few isolated areas where the operation physically touches upon the lagoon. These areas are all in locations where the gray whales have never congregated because the water is too shallow. ESSA argues on its own behalf that there is not any evidence to support the argument that their operation is harmful to the whales. Since the gray whale population has increased from 1000 animals to 26,000+ during the period they have been operating, their argument carries some weight.	Those of you who believe that the salt making operation poses a danger to the gray whale species have been misinformed. That is absolutely not the case. For dangers to the Gray Whale you should look to pollution in the Bering Sea from Oil U.S. oil production, from lumber harvesting in the U.S. and Canada and finally from construction activities such as quarrying of gravel which causes siltation and smothers the small crustaceans that the gray whale eat. Every one of those activities poses a real and serious threat to the continued existence of the gray whale. Lessening of the amphipod supply, caused by pollution is responsible for the death of 10,000 gray whales in the years between 2000 and 2004! ! ! ! ! !	Solar Salt Production Solar salt is produced by the action of sun and wind on seawater. The water evaporates until the brine is so concentrated salt crystallizes on the floor of the ponds. Solar salt plants must be located in areas of low rainfall and high evaporation rates, and where suitable low-cost is available. Seawater contains about 3.5% (by weight) dissolved minerals. Sodium chloride is 77% of that amount, or about 2.7% of seawater. The other 0.8% consists chiefly of calcium, magnesium and sulfate ions. As seawater evaporates, its volume decreases and the concentration of sodium chloride in the resulting brine increases. Salt crystals begin to form when the brine concentration reaches 25.8 % sodium chloride (NaCl). As evaporation proceeds, a layer of salt builds up on the earthen crystallizer floors to a thickness of 10 to 25 cm (4-10 in). Sometimes, a layer of salt remains in the crystallizers as "salt floors" to provide support for "harvesting" equipment and to lessen the chance of clay or soil contamination of the salt. A modern, properly operated solar salt plant can produce salt that is more than 99.7 % NaCl (dry basis). After the salt "crop" reaches the appropriate thickness, the salt is harvested (usually once a year) with mobile equipment, washed, and placed on stockpile to drain. The principal impurities in solar salt are small amounts of calcium and magnesium sulfate, and magnesium chloride. Clean brine, made by dissolving fine salt, is used to wash the salt to remove small amounts of impurities such as these.
	If you have any doubts as to the size of the salt trucks, check out the photo above. This is a truck that is in the process of dumping the salt onto a conveyor. The building in the foreground is a two story, 22 foot high structure. These truck trains are probably 100 or 125 feet in length. Some readers are getting confused by this page. I am not an ESSA opponent. Nor do I support the salt company in any way. I'm neutral to the issue, believing that there is no threat or harm to the gray whales. ESSA does much good for the community of Guerrero Negro as well as for the wildlife located in or near its operation. They provide many services as well as a substantial income base to the entire Guerrero Negro region. I recognize the rights of all parties involved. As an American outsider I also realize that the USA needs to look to our activities to the north for answers as to why the gray whale population is believed to have declined from 25,000 to 16,000 in four short years. I have many friends in Guerrero Negro who make their living on or from the salt operation. I want people to know what the salt operation really looks like. These photos were not intended to make it look better, or worse than what it is. I find some artistic beauty in the glistening white salt ponds and the gleaming mountains of salt. Keith
	A Mountain of salt. To the left notice the conveyor dumping more salt onto the pile. Below is another closer view of the conveyor Notice the 6' high worker at the left of the hill. This pile of salt must have been 50 or 60 feet high.
The photo to the right shows a conveyor, not operating, and a loaded barge ready to ship to Cedros Island.

The contents of this site, both the photographs and the editorial copy, are copyright Keith E. Jones 1998. This means you cannot use the photos without permission. However permission is hereby granted to any individual who wishes to use photos or editorial copy as part of an educational report or study, as long as you list this publication in your bibliography. For commercial and editorial uses contact me by email and I will respond promptly.