Morton Salt Chicago IL

[Gary S]

I am guessing that they are bringing bulk salt in the covered hoppers and then packaging it in the plant. About 20 years ago, the company I worked for as an electrician had a customer which refined and packaged salt here in Houston. They did not have a rail connection, and did not need one because the plant was built directly over the salt dome, which was about 1000 feet underground. They injected water into the salt dome and then brought up brine water. The brine was run through a series of rolling screens and then went into a rotating dryer drum to evaporate the water out leaving only the salt. From there, the salt went to allthe different packaging facilities, some in round cans like we buy at the grocery store, some in 50 or 100 pound sacks, and they also compresed the salt into pellets for water softening. Was very interesting to see all the processes, but wasn't so great to work there because everything was wet and damp and slimey salty. Our tools didn't stand a chance, within a few weeks, they were rusted up, unless you washed and oiled them every day.

It is possible that the Morton plant is over a salt dome, but I doubt it because I don't see any retention ponds for the brine water. I do see the body of water to the right, but it looks like a natural river to me.