Black salt (Hindi काला नमक kala namak) is an unrefined table salt with a strong sulphurous taste derived from the mixture of sulphur compounds with it. Although it is indeed blackish as mined, the powder is more a light purple color. Chemically, black salt is potassium chloride. It tastes less salty than common table salt. Black salt is mined from quarries in Central Pakistan. It is used extensively in Indian cuisine as a condiment as well as in ayurvedic medicine and is commonly sold in the form of a fine, almost completely odorless powder. It is also available in crystal form that must be dissolved in water or ground. It is often used by people with high blood pressure or on low-salt diets because it does not contain significant amounts of sodium. It is also believed to relieve both heartburn and flatulence. Edible salt is a mineral, one of the few rocks people eat. ... For the chemical element see: sulfur. ... Taste is one of the most common and fundamental of the senses of animals. ... The chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl) is a metal halide composed of potassium and chlorine. ... Indian cuisine is distinguished by its sophisticated use of spices and herbs and the influence of the longstanding and widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society. ... Arbys sauce Bold textExamples of condiments include: Arbys sauce Belacan Brown sauce Chili oil Chutneys Cocktail sauce Fish sauce Fry sauce Horseradish sauce Hot sauces based on chili, including Tabasco sauce Ketchup Lettuce Mixed pickle MSG Mustard Pepper Raita Red pepper flakes Relish Remoulade Salsa Salt Sauerkraut (sometimes... Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद Sanskrit: ayu—life; veda—knowledge of) or ayurvedic medicine is a more than 2,000 year old comprehensive system of medicine based on a holistic approach rooted in Vedic culture. ... Powder is a substance that has been crushed into very fine grains. ...

Chemically, "black salt" sold in India is almost pure sodium chloride, with traces of iron which probably provides the purple hue. On dissolving in water, an olive green coloured solution is obtained, and a small quantity of undissolved black specks. On dissolving the specks in dilute aqua regia, the following trace elements were found, zinc, nickel,iron (most abundant), magnesium, manganese, copper, titanium, aluminium, calcium and sodium.

Black salt is also the name for two types of salt used in occult practices as means of protection. One type of black salt consists mainly of burnt rue, graveyard dirt, and crushed sea salt. It should not be eaten. Another type is made by blending regular salt with the scrapings from cast-iron cookware. It is used not only for protection but also to cast hexes. The word occult comes from the Latin occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to the knowledge of the secret or knowledge of the hidden and often popularly meaning knowledge of the supernatural, as opposed to knowledge of the visible or knowledge of the measurable, usually referred to as science. ... The word protection has several uses: Protection is a euphemism for contraception. ... Species Between 8-40 species, including: Ruta angustifolia - Egyptian Rue Ruta chalepensis - Fringed Rue Ruta corsica - Corsican Rue Ruta graveolens - Common Rue Ruta montana - Mountain Rue Rue (Ruta) is a genus of strongly scented evergreen subshrubs 20-60 cm tall, in the family Rutaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia... Graves at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York A cemetery is a place (usually an enclosed area of land) in which dead bodies are buried. ... Chemical composition of sea salt Sea salt harvest in Île de Ré, France. ...

References

• The Elemental Encyclopedia Of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes, ISBN 0007164653
• Blacksalt in Ayurveda

[I analysed some black salt purchased in India. It contained virtually pure sodium chloride. reference: http://www.gourmetindia.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=455109b84657ffff;act=ST;f=5;t=2762006]

Confusion may have arisen because potash was made from crude 'black salts' as mentioned in Webster's dictionary 1913 '. (Black"salt`er) n. One who makes crude potash, or black salts. Black salts. (Black" salts`) Crude potash. De Colange ... ' Needless to say the 'black salts' were made, and not mined, which would suggest it is not the same as Indian black salt.