Salt has been in use since ancient times. It was used to preserve Egyptian mummies, and sprinkled onto the stage in old Japanese theatres to ward off evil spirits.

Salt is essential for human life. A well-known food ingredient, salt is also critical for many industries. The majority of the salt Rio Tinto produces is used by the chemical industry, where it helps make materials like glass, paper, plastics, textiles and even soaps and detergents. Some of our salt is also used to process foods and de-ice roads.