Halite, also known as rock salt, is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl) . It is commonly found in sedimentary rocks where it has formed from the evaporation of seawater or salty lake water. Halite is mainly used for the following purposes:

• Food preparation: Salt is an essential nutrient for humans and most animals, and it is also a favorite seasoning for many types of food. Halite is used in food preparation across the globe.

• Winter road treatment: Most of the salt produced is crushed and used in the winter on roads to control the accumulation of snow and ice.

• Chemical industry: Significant amounts of salt are used by the chemical industry. Sodium hydroxide, soda ash, hydrochloric acid, chlorine, and metallic sodium are some of the widely used compounds in the chemical industry that are produced using salt.

• Medicinal properties: Halite is known to have various healing properties and is used in various medicinal practices.

• Agriculture: Salt is used in agriculture as a fertilizer and to control pests.

• Manufacture of rubber and other goods: Salt is used in the manufacture of rubber and other goods.

• Food preservation: Historically, one of the most important uses of halite was in the preservation of meat. In times and areas where refrigeration was not an option, salting meat was often the best way to preserve it.

Halite is also used in the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide, which are widely used in the manufacture of pulp, paper, textiles, and soaps.