Native rock salt, or fossil salt, is found in most countries of Europe, and also in every quarter of the globe.
The ancients seem to have becen acquainted with rock salt. It is probable that the columns of fossil glass, in which Herodotus informs us the Abyssinians enclosed their mummies, were masses of rock salt which existed in the country. Herodotus likewise informs us, that the Lybians built their houses with it; and Pliny states that the Arabians did the same, ce menting the whole by sprinkling water upon it.
In England, beds of from twenty to thirty yards thick are found in Cheshire, and which we have gene rally described under that article.
In France, native rock salt has been recently (in 1819) discovered at Vic, in the department of Meurthe, and also in the department of the Vosges, associated with gypsum, clay, and sandstone. At Vic there were six distinct strata of very fine rock salt from three to fourteen inches, and at a depth of from 65 to 104 metres. Such, however, is the condition of France, that no use has yet been made of this mineral trea sure.* Spain possesses the celebrated rock salt mountain at Cordova, in Catalonia, and it is said it has also been lately discovered in the Pyrenees. At Cordova, about eight-tenths of the mountain, which is 300 feet high, consists of rock salt. The surface of the mountain is destitute of vegetation, and the mountain itself is com posed of vertical and generally parallel beds of thick salt, clay and gypsum alternating with each other. The salt is sometimes transparent, but most frequently it occurs in translucent masses, consisting of small grey ish white, or reddish granular concretions. The coun try around this mountain consists of micaceous sand stone, argillaceous slate, and compact limestone.
This formation seems to be an independent one, in a valley a league in circumference,the surface of which is covered with vegetable soil. At one end of it is a promontory of red salt 660 feet high, without crevices, chasms, or strata. It is said to be about a league in circumference, and equal in height to the surrounding mountains.
At La Mancha, in Spain, there is a similar mass of salt 210 feet in diameter, which is mixed with and co vered by sulphate of lime, including crystals of red quartz.
Near the river Ebro, there is a chain of hills stretch ing from east to west, and consisting of salt, sulphate of lime, and limestone.
In Germany there are many masses of rock salt, namely, in Upper Austria, Styria, Bavaria,{ \Vurtem berg, Salzburg, and the Tyrol. The salt mines of the Tyrol are situated in a mountain, and they are wrought by excavating galleries, and introducing fresh water, which is allowed to remain till it is saturated.
In Hungary and Poland, there seems to be an im mense deposite of rock salt on both sides of the Carpa thian mountains. An account of the Hungarian masses will be found under our article and of those of Wielitska, near Cracow, in Poland, under our ar ticle POLAND.
Near Ockna, in Moldavia, there is a mountain of rock salt, which in many places is not even covered with the soil.
In Transylvania, the bottom and sides of the valley of Paraid, consist of solid salt exposed to view, and it rises in several precipices to the height of more than 200 feet.
In Italy rock salt is found at Altamonte, in Cala bria.
In Cararnania, in Asiatic Turkey, the rock salt is so hard, and the air so dry, that, we are informed by Chardin, it is employed in the construction of build ings.
The whole island of Ormuz, in the Persian Gulf, is said to be a solid mass of fossil salt.
In Caubul, the rock salt rises in a cliff more than 100 feet above the river: It is hard, transparent, and almost pure, and the road is cut through it. In some places it is streaked of a blood red colour, like the earth in the neighbourhood.
In Africa, rock salt is abundantly distributed. It is found in Tunis and Algiers, and in the mountains which bound the desert of Lybia on the north, is an im mense plain covered with common salt.
Near Jibbel Had-den, in Tunis, there is an entire mountain of salt, situated at the eastern extremity of the lake of St. Mark. The salt is of a reddish or pur ple colour, and is as hard as stone. A portion of it is washed down by the dews, and becomes as white as snow, losing the sharp bitterness of the parent rock.