Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, May 27, 2024
I was wondering what type of specimen this was when I saw the crystal structure on this specimen at the Seattle Mineral Market a couple of weeks ago. I was surprised when the vendor said it was salt. When I did a bit more research on it, it seems that it is halite (rock salt) – plain old NaCl.
Apparently the pink tinge on this is from microscopic organisms. I don’t know where this particular specimen came from but apparently there is a lake in California, among other places, where you can get pink halite. From what I read, further refining would need to be made to remove the impurities before this was usable as table salt.
Salt is used for so many things: as a flavoring, as a preservative, as something we put on our icy roads and sidewalks in the winter, for essential nutrition and in the chemistry industry to name just a few uses.
I read that at one time salt was worth its weight in gold. Since then, it has become much more prevalent and is more easily obtained. I watched a documentary recently where in some parts of Africa, blocks of salt are still hauled across the desert on the backs of camels.
I like these verses in Matthew that talk about our value as salt and light:
Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 13-16 (The Message)