Saltern

Saltern

Saltern is a word with a number of differing (but interrelated) meanings. In English archaeology, a saltern is a term used to describe an area used for salt making, especially in the East Anglian fenlands.

The term saltern also describes modern salt-making works, and contain hypersaline waters that usually contain high concentrations of halophilic microorganisms, primarily haloarchaea but also other halophiles including algae and bacteria.Salterns usually begin with seawater as the initial source of brine but may also use natural saltwater springs and streams. The water is evaporated, usually over a series of ponds, to the point where NaCl and other salts precipitate out of the saturated brine, allowing pure salts to be harvested. In England, complete evaporation in this fashion was not routinely achievable and salt from the concentrated brine was produced by boiling the brine.

Earliest examples of pans used in the solution mining of salt date back to prehistoric times and the pans were made of ceramics known as briquetage. Later examples were made from lead and then iron. The change from lead to iron coincided with a change from wood to coal for the purpose of heating the brine. Brine would be pumped into the pans, and concentrated by the heat of the fire burning underneath. As crystals of salt formed these would be raked out and more brine added. In warmer climates no additional heat would be supplied, the sun's heat being sufficient to evaporate off the brine.

ee also

*Salt evaporation pond

References

*"This article incorporates text from [http://www.dawlish.com/ Dawlish.com] , a site which allows free use of its content."
* [http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Salt-making.htm Salt Making in the Adur Valley]

* Archaeology, arable landscapes and drainage ...Excavations at the Bourne-Morton canal and the Roman saltern recorded. [http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=BD1701_3905_FRA.pdf Archaeology, arable landscapes and drainage in the Fenland of Eastern England.]

* A medieval saltern mound at Millfields Caravan Park, Bramber,West [http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/search/fr.cfm?RCN=EHNMR-1332783 Medieval (13th-16th century) saltern mound ]

* [http://thesaurus.english-heritage.org.uk/thesaurus_term.asp?thes_no=1&term_no=71229 Definition of Saltern Mound]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Saltern — Salt ern, n. A building or place where salt is made by boiling or by evaporation; salt works. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • saltern — [sôl′tərn] n. [OE sealtærn < sealt, salt + ærn, house: see RANSACK] SALTWORKS …   English World dictionary

  • Saltern — Recorded as Saltern and Salterne, this is a medieval English surname. It may be locational from Saltren s Cottages, a hamlet near the village of Monkleigh in the county of Devon, but more probably for most name holders was occupational for a man… …   Surnames reference

  • Saltern Cove — is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is in Paignton, Devon on the South coast of England.Flora and faunaThe rocky coastline at Saltern Cove supports diverse communities of intertidal plants and animals. Along the lower shore the coarse… …   Wikipedia

  • saltern — /sawl teuhrn/, n. 1. a saltworks. 2. a plot of land laid out in pools for the evaporation of seawater to produce salt. [bef. 900; OE sealtaern saltworks (not recorded in ME), equiv. to sealt SALT1 + aern building, house] * * * …   Universalium

  • saltern — noun a) An area used for saltmaking, especially in the East Anglian fenlands. b) A modern saltworks …   Wiktionary

  • saltern — salt·ern || sɔːltÉ™(r)n n. saltworks, place where salt is prepared or manufactured; place where salt is produced in a natural manner when pools of sea water evaporate (Geography) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • saltern — [ sɔ:ltən, sɒ ] noun a set of pools in which seawater is left to evaporate to make salt. Origin OE sealtærn salt building (the original use denoting a salt works) …   English new terms dictionary

  • saltern — sal·tern …   English syllables

  • saltern — salt•ern [[t]ˈsɔl tərn[/t]] n. 1) chem. a saltworks 2) chem. a plot of land laid out in pools for the evaporation of seawater to produce salt • Etymology: bef. 900; OE sealtærn saltworks =sealt salt+ærn building …   From formal English to slang

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