Chemical Analysis of Natural Himalayan Pink Rock Salt
Below is a spectral analysis of a typical Himalayan pink salt. Different parts of the deposit will differ slightly in their composition. Himalayan salt is a rock salt popular among health food advocates who seek it for the nutritional value of its fairly abundant trace minerals. Foodies (and the rest of us who just like to explore ways to make food taste better and more fun to create) also love Himalayan salt in its more massive, brick and plate form as Himalayan salt blocks.
| Element | Symbol | Analysis Type |
| Hydrogen | H | 0.30 g/kg |
| Lithium | Li | 0.40 g/kg |
| Beryllium | Be | <0.01 ppm |
| Boron | B | <0.001 ppm |
| Carbon | C | <0.001 ppm |
| Nitrogen | N | 0.024 ppm |
| Oxygen | O | 1.20 g/kg |
| Flouride | F- | <0.1 g/kg |
| Sodium | Na+ | 382.61 g/kg |
| Magnesium | Mg | 0.16 g/kg |
| Aluminum | Al | 0.661 ppm |
| Silicon | Si | <0.1 g/kg |
| Phosphorus | P | <0.10 ppm |
| Sulfur | S | 12.4 g/kg |
| Chloride | Cl- | 590.93 g/kg |
| Potassium | K+ | 3.5 g/kg |
| Calcium | Ca | 4.05 g/kg |
| Scandium | Sc | <0.0001 ppm |
| Titanium | Ti | <0.001 ppm |
| Vanadium | V | 0.06 ppm |
| Chromium | Cr | 0.05 ppm |
| Manganese | Mn | 0.27 ppm |
| Iron | Fe | 38.9 ppm |
| Cobalt | Co | 0.60 ppm |
| Nickel | Ni | 0.13 ppm |
| Copper | Cu | 0.56 ppm |
| Zinc | Zn | 2.38 ppm |
| Gallium | Ga | <0.001 ppm |
| Germanium | Ge | <0.001 ppm |
| Arsenic | As | <0.01 ppm |
| Selenium | Se | 0.05 ppm |
| Bromine | Br | 2.1 ppm |
| Rubidium | Rb | <0.04 ppm |
| Strontium | Sr | <0.014 g/kg |
| Ytterbium | Y | <0.001 ppm |
| Zirconium | Zr | <0.001 ppm |
| Niobium | Nb | <0.001 ppm |
| Molybdenum | Mo | <0.01 ppm |
| Technetium | Tc | N/A unstable isotope |
| Ruthenium | Ru | <0.001 ppm |
| Rhodium | Rh | <0.001 ppm |
| Palladium | Pd | <0.001 ppm |
| Silver | Ag | 0.031 ppm |
| Cadmium | Cd | <0.01 ppm |
| Indium | In | <0.001 ppm |
| Tin | Sn | <0.01 ppm |
| Antimony | Sb | <0.01 ppm |
| Tellurium | Te | <0.001 ppm |
| Iodine | I | <0.1 g/kg |
| Cesium | Cs | <0.001 ppm |
| Barium | Ba | 1.96 ppm |
| Lanthanum | La | <0.001 ppm |
| Cerium | Ce | <0.001 ppm |
| Praseodymium | Pr | <0.001 ppm |
| Neodymium | Nd | <0.001 ppm |
| Promethium | Pm | N/A unstable isotope |
| Samarium | Sm | <0.001 ppm |
| Europium | Eu | <3.0 ppm |
| Gadolinium | Gd | <0.001 ppm |
| Terbium | Tb | <0.001 ppm |
| Dysprosium | Dy | <4.0 ppm |
| Holmium | Ho | <0.001 ppm |
| Erbium | Er | <0.001 ppm |
| Thulium | Tm | <0.001 ppm |
| Ytterbium | Yb | <0.001 ppm |
| Lutetium | Lu | <0.001 ppm |
| Hafnium | Hf | <0.001 ppm |
| Tantalum | Ta | 1.1 ppm |
| Wolfram | W | <0.001 ppm |
| Rhenium | Re | <2.5 ppm |
| Osmium | Os | <0.001 ppm |
| Iridium | Ir | <2.0 ppm |
| Platinum | Pt | <0.47 ppm |
| Gold | Au | <1.0 ppm |
| Mercury | Hg | <0.03 ppm |
| Thallium | Ti | <0.06 ppm |
| Lead | Pb | <0.10 ppm |
| Bismuth | Bi | <0.10 ppm |
| Polonium | Po | <0.001 ppm |
| Astatine | At | <0.001 ppm |
| Francium | Fr | <1.0 ppm |
| Radium | Ra | <0.001 ppm |
| Actinium | Ac | <0.001 ppm |
| Thorium | Th | <0.001 ppm |
| Protactinium | Pa | <0.001 ppm |
| Uranium | U | <0.001 ppm |
| Neptunium | Np | <0.001 ppm |
| Plutonium | Pu | <0.001 ppm |
| Element | Symbol | # | Analysis Type |
| Hydrogen | H | 1 | 0.30 g/kg |
| Lithium | Li | 3 | 0.40 g/kg |
| Beryllium | Be | 4 | <0.01 ppm |
| Boron | B | 5 | <0.001 ppm |
| Carbon | C | 6 | <0.001 ppm |
| Nitrogen | N | 7 | 0.024 ppm |
| Oxygen | O | 8 | 1.20 g/kg |
| Flouride | F- | 9 | <0.1 g/kg |
| Sodium | Na+ | 11 | 382.61 g/kg |
| Magnesium | Mg | 12 | 0.16 g/kg |
| Aluminum | Al | 13 | 0.661 ppm |
| Silicon | Si | 14 | <0.1 g/kg |
| Phosphorus | P | 15 | <0.10 ppm |
| Sulfur | S | 16 | 12.4 g/kg |
| Chloride | Cl- | 17 | 590.93 g/kg |
| Potassium | K+ | 19 | 3.5 g/kg |
| Calcium | Ca | 20 | 4.05 g/kg |
| Scandium | Sc | 21 | <0.0001 ppm |
| Titanium | Ti | 22 | <0.001 ppm |
| Vanadium | V | 23 | 0.06 ppm |
| Chromium | Cr | 24 | 0.05 ppm |
| Manganese | Mn | 25 | 0.27 ppm |
| Iron | Fe | 26 | 38.9 ppm |
| Cobalt | Co | 27 | 0.60 ppm |
| Nickel | Ni | 28 | 0.13 ppm |
| Copper | Cu | 29 | 0.56 ppm |
| Zinc | Zn | 30 | 2.38 ppm |
| Gallium | Ga | 31 | <0.001 ppm |
| Germanium | Ge | 32 | <0.001 ppm |
| Arsenic | As | 33 | <0.01 ppm |
| Selenium | Se | 34 | 0.05 ppm |
| Bromine | Br | 35 | 2.1 ppm |
| Rubidium | Rb | 37 | 0.04 ppm |
| Strontium | Sr | 38 | 0.014 g/kg |
| Ytterbium | Y | 39 | <0.001 ppm |
| Zirconium | Zr | 40 | <0.001 ppm |
| Niobium | Nb | 41 | <0.001 ppm |
| Molybdenum | Mo | 42 | 0.01 ppm |
| Technetium | Tc | 43 | unstable artificial isotope – not included |
| Ruthenium | Ru | 44 | <0.001 ppm |
| Rhodium | Rh | 45 | <0.001 ppm |
| Palladium | Pd | 46 | <0.001 ppm |
| Silver | Ag | 47 | 0.031 ppm |
| Cadmium | Cd | 48 | <0.01 ppm |
| Indium | In | 49 | <0.001 ppm |
| Tin | Sn | 50 | <0.01 ppm |
| Antimony | Sb | 51 | <0.01 ppm |
| Tellurium | Te | 52 | <0.001 ppm |
| Iodine | I | 53 | <0.1 g/kg |
| Cesium | Cs | 55 | <0.001 ppm |
| Barium | Ba | 56 | 1.96 ppm |
| Lanthan | La | 57 | <0.001 ppm |
| Cerium | Ce | 58 | <0.001 ppm |
| Praseodynium | Pr | 59 | <0.001 ppm |
| Neodymium | Nd | 60 | <0.001 ppm |
| Promethium | Pm | 61 | unstable artificial isotope – not included |
| Samarium | Sm | 62 | <0.001 ppm |
| Europium | Eu | 63 | <3.0 ppm |
| Gadolinium | Gd | 64 | <0.001 ppm |
| Terbium | Tb | 65 | <0.001 ppm |
| Dysprosium | Dy | 66 | <4.0 ppm |
| Holmium | Ho | 67 | <0.001 ppm |
| Erbium | Er | 68 | <0.001 ppm |
| Thulium | Tm | 69 | <0.001 ppm |
| Ytterbium | Yb | 70 | <0.001 ppm |
| Lutetium | Lu | 71 | <0.001 ppm |
| Hafnium | Hf | 72 | <0.001 ppm |
| Tantalum | Ta | 73 | 1.1 ppm |
| Wolfram | W | 74 | <0.001 ppm |
| Rhenium | Re | 75 | <2.5 ppm |
| Osmium | Os | 76 | <0.001 ppm |
| Iridium | Ir | 77 | <2.0 ppm |
| Platinum | Pt | 78 | 0.47 ppm |
| Gold | Au | 79 | <1.0 ppm |
| Mercury | Hg | 80 | <0.03 ppm |
| Thallium | Ti | 81 | 0.06 ppm |
| Lead | Pb | 82 | 0.10 ppm |
| Bismuth | Bi | 83 | <0.10 ppm |
| Polonium | Po | 84 | <0.001 ppm |
| Astat | At | 85 | <0.001 ppm |
| Francium | Fr | 87 | <1.0 ppm |
| Radium | Ra | 88 | <0.001 ppm |
| Actinium | Ac | 89 | <0.001 ppm |
| Thorium | Th | 90 | <0.001 ppm |
| Protactinium | Pa | 91 | <0.001 ppm |
| Uranium | U | 92 | <0.001 ppm |
| Neptunium | Np | 93 | <0.001 ppm |
| Plutonium | Pu | 94 | <0.001 ppm |
Mark Bitterman :: Aug.25.2010 :: :: 10 Comments »
Is there a comparable analysis of Redman Rock salt from Utah?
What was the source of the sample used in the analysis and who performed the chemical analysis?
The analysis you see here is from a work entitled Water & Salt: The Essence of Life, by Peter Ferreira and Dr. Barbara Hendel, M.D. It’s consistent with our own analysis as well.
HIMALAYAN ROCK SALT
I note that the analysis in Salt News is taken from Peter Ferreira’s and Dr Barbara Hendel’s book from 2002 and I am wondering if you can direct me to a more current analysis of Himalayan rock salt.
Regards,
DAVID MEDLYN
AVALON BEACH NSW
AUSTRALIA
I’ve seen several other chemical analysis of HPS, and in each one, the iron content (which, I suppose gives HPS its color) is very high. In this case:
Iron Fe 38.9 ppm
I’m trying to find any information about HPS iron content. It’s the only salt we use, for a number of reasons. Celtic is too moldy, even when baked. Redmond is too salty, leaving sand and grit behind. But I’m worried about the iron content. And someone else I talked to is concerned that the type of iron in HPS is unhealthy – that the pink color indicates the iron has oxidized.
I picked up a copy of your book, but I didn’t see this discussed. Thanks for any insight you might have!
P.S. Tried to subscribe to the RSS Feed, but received an error.
All salt is harmful in high quantities. Iron supplemented into any males diet is bad. Iron oxide isn’t good for anyone. So are a plethora of any other elements and compounds found in any salt. When using salt use it all sparingly…yes each natural salt has different pluses and minuses and flavour. The thing is don’t over use it and do your research…. and never trust the word of a site that sells the product. Always look for 3rd party research. What good is the research if the person has a vested interest in it’s sale?
@Rich – We’ve written a new post to answer your question about iron in salt – http://www.saltnews.com/2012/03/are-there-dangerous-amounts-of-iron-in-salt/.
With all respect, the publication of an authoritative chemical analysis of this nature should include the fullest possible citation of its provenance, including the laboratory that performed it, the date of the analysis, the material source documentation to the mining area, the field sampling procedure, the chain of title to the sample provided and the laboratory sampling and testing procedures.
@JackC – I really appreciate the points you bring up. This analysis was posted as a courtesy and a resource for those with a passing curiosity about salt, not as a claim about any particular scientific or nutritional fact. What you say would be true if we were intending for this to be THE authoritative analysis. I have updated the post in hopes of clarifying this. Hopefully it’s helpful to you in that regard.