User:Paulkong/sandbox

Reflective Essay
When evaluating an article, we are instructed to look at the following components. Clarity, Structure, Balanced Coverage, Neutrality, Talk Page, and Sources. We were also required to provide suggestions for improvement. For example, in my article about Halite, I found that the uses were underdeveloped and there was no history section. Mentioned on the talk page were some problems with the article which no one had addressed, such as the lack of specificity in physical properties in the summary. Neutrality tends to be harder yet still vital to maintain in more controversial topics. However, there is not much controversy around Halite. Sourcing was also an issue. Although the sources probably existed in an accessible form at the time they were included -they can not be accessed online today. It seems I did not mention clarity and I am not sure why. Maybe I assumed that my Evaluate An Article assignments was being graded on Clarity not that I was evaluating based on clarity as well. It seems awkward evaluating an article using a rubric without seeing an example of an evaluated article. I found evaluating an article to be a very useful exercise in critical thought, but it also forces me to acknowledge my lack of geological understanding. This made it difficult to choose an article, but I felt that Halite (or Rock Salt) was simple enough to dig into. I found a couple of useful citations to include and provided more details on uses of Halite. I am undecided on whether to create a History section based on the History of Salt in general as it would be difficult to source. However, a summary of a History of Salt article, extra references for specific physical information, and an expanded uses section, make the article both more useful and an easier read.

After we evaluated our respective articles and created a draft for a better version we had the opportunity to provide feedback for each other. When I reviewed a peers work I noted that lack of connection between the citation and the information from the citation suggesting an easier to follow format. I also posed the question of credibility of a video my peer shared, and requested evidence to back up an alleged statistic. Where my peer used a Q&A style i suggested they reword the question into a statement and use that as a subheading. I invited my peer to elaborate on their distinction between types of sand and what evidence they had to support the claim that it was ‘useless’. I also discouraged going on a tangent about glass, as it does not pertain directly to the topic and asked for another reference where they mention that sand under the ocean was a thin layer and that if removed it could be disruptive. In Summary, I pointed out a few assumptions which need more elaboration, made some structural suggestions, and pointed out where references could be useful. In a Seconde Peer Review, there was not a lot of content to review so I provided step-by-step instructions on how to use the library summons and Google Scholar to find sources.

In my peers feedback of my work my thoughts on expansion of uses and a history section was affirmed. The reviewer mentioned adding a section on the composition of Halite and another on how humans extract this salt and any environmental impacts related. They also suggested more work on sourcing. In response, I agreed that more sourcing was necessary and that I would continue expanding on history and uses.I mentioned a potential section on colors of Halite and this related to chemical composition and could probably make that one section. I am having difficulty finding any peer-reviewed papers when searching for environmental impact of Halite Mining. So i do not think I can mention this anywhere. To summarize my response I agreed to the gist and said that I would put time into researching and adding in the new information.

Wikipedia is a vital tool for access to information to almost anyone. If you use Alexa, you can have an entire Wikipedia page read to you with a simple voice command. It is among the most accessible forms of information up there with Google search engine. Being able to learn about the ins and outs of Wikipedia is a powerful way to create access to previously unexposed information. I learned to question sources more readily and write neutrally using research that is (presumably) objective. It is different than most other assignments that it allows my work to be published in the real world provided I articulate and source better than others, and allows me to contribute directly to a free base of knowledge. This is important because There are influencers in politics, business, and media, who profit off of bias and disinformation, and the skills to evaluate and publish content critically is the pursuit of truth, beauty, and life itself.

Evaluate an Article
Structure: This piece of information seems out of place. It could be a great point in a different sub-section called ‘Mining’ The Khewra salt mine is a massive deposit of halite near Islamabad, Pakistan. In the United Kingdom there are three mines; the largest of these is at Winsford in Cheshire producing on average a million tonnes per year. Coverage: There is no section describing the mining or procurement methods of Halite. There is also no information regarding the value of Halite, its processing and distribution, or environmental impact of its mining. There is no connection to the History of Halite.

Neutrality: Where it introduces Halite, it says that the different colours depend on the type of impurities. They do not cite anything. Here https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/003707389400093A it says that 3 things cause the different colours- ‘(a) the inclusion of interstitial matter; (b) impurities; or (c) structural defects in the crystal lattice.’ The article also mentions that colors can be induced. Also, in Uses, it only focuses on certain cultures while the talk page mentions that it is used in brazil which is not mentioned here.

Talk Page: The talk page is very useful to help guide editing this article. Comments like Bilma Salt is evaporated not mined is very helpful. That user even provided a research paper I can look at! Using Halite as Ammunition is not mentioned in the article and is something I can try to find a reference for The talk page also talks about potentially changing the article name, but the name Halite stands

Sources: The article does not have the best sources, 4 out of 8 are not directly linked to any peer-reviewed papers but instead an archival website. When you try to click on it it does not open. Although it may have been an online library containing scholarly articles, without being able tp actually open it I might as well cite ‘the voice inside my head’.

Suggestions: Expand on uses, create a whole section denoting extraction methods, add a history section and provide more detail regarding physical properties like the relationship between colours and different physical properties.a

Ideas
The uses of Salt are underdeveloped. No historical significance is mentioned. Effective temperature for road salt use not specific enough. melting point not mentioned.

Salt can be used to kill weeds and deters ants.

Historically, it was used to make land infertile as an act of domination. See Salting the earth. This practice was also mentioned in the Bible Judges 9:45: “he killed the people in it, pulled the wall down and sowed the site with salt.”. in Ancient times Salt was regarded with high value as it was ot as accessible. It was sometimes used as a currency due to its high demand.

NaCl is only effective to melt ice until -12 Celsius after which other formulations must be used. Magnesium chloride can be mixed with sodium chloride for temperatures down to -25, while calcium chloride can melt ice as low as -31C. https://www.diamondcrystalsalt.com/blog/at-what-temperature-does-salt-melt-ice Each mixture of road salts have their drawbacks. Road sald in general is toxic for consumption and can be harmful to wildlife and pets. There may also be environmental effects such as its impact on soil fertility.

Salt is used to dry skin as a treatment for acne.

Salt is used as a preservative. Salt is also used as a household cleaning product. Its coarse nature allows for its use in various cleaning scenarios including grease/oil removal, stain removal, and even dries out and hardens sticky spills for an easier clean.

Salt is conductive in a liquid state.

Salt is liquid at 802 degrees centigrade

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/cleaning-with-salt-20-must-know-hacks-for-a-clean-house/

History of salt

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/156626841.pdf

Handbook of Aluminum: Volume 2: Alloy Production and Materials ...
George E. Totten, ‎D. Scott MacKenzie - 2003 - ‎Preview - ‎More editions The fusion temperature of the NaCl is 802°C and the KCl fusion temperature is 775°C. The system is isomorphic with a ... This mixture melting point fulfills one of the requirements for a salt flux, which is, that the melting point must be under ...

= Halite = From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigationJump to search "Rock salt" redirects here. For edible coarse salt, see Kosher salt.

For the market widely known as "Halite", see Central Sofia Market Hall. Halite ( /ˈhælaɪt/ or /ˈheɪlaɪt/), commonly known as rock salt, is a type of salt, the mineral (natural) form of sodium chloride (NaCl). Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow or gray depending on the amount and type of impurities. It commonly occurs with other evaporite deposit minerals such as several of the sulfates, halides, and borates. The name halite is derived from the Ancient Greek word for salt, ἅλς (háls).

Contents

 * 1Occurrence
 * 2Uses
 * 3Gallery
 * 4See also
 * 5References
 * 6External links

Occurrence[edit]
Halite cubes from the Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany(size: 6.7 × 1.9 × 1.7 cm)

Halite occurs in vast beds of sedimentary evaporite minerals that result from the drying up of enclosed lakes, playas, and seas. Salt beds may be hundreds of meters thick and underlie broad areas. In the United States and Canada extensive underground beds extend from the Appalachian basin of western New York through parts of Ontario and under much of the Michigan Basin. Other deposits are in Ohio, Kansas, New Mexico, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan. The Khewra salt mine is a massive deposit of halite near Islamabad, Pakistan. In the United Kingdom there are three mines; the largest of these is at Winsford in Cheshire producing on average a million tonnes per year.

Salt domes are vertical diapirs or pipe-like masses of salt that have been essentially "squeezed up" from underlying salt beds by mobilization due to the weight of overlying rock. Salt domes contain anhydrite, gypsum, and native sulfur, in addition to halite and sylvite. They are common along the Gulf coasts of Texas and Louisiana and are often associated with petroleum deposits. Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Romania and Iran also have salt domes. Salt glaciers exist in arid Iran where the salt has broken through the surface at high elevation and flows downhill. In all of these cases, halite is said to be behaving in the manner of a rheid.

Unusual, purple, fibrous vein filling halite is found in France and a few other localities. Halite crystals termed hopper crystals appear to be "skeletons" of the typical cubes, with the edges present and stairstep depressions on, or rather in, each crystal face. In a rapidly crystallizing environment, the edges of the cubes simply grow faster than the centers. Halite crystals form very quickly in some rapidly evaporating lakes resulting in modern artifacts with a coating or encrustation of halite crystals. Halite flowers are rare stalactites of curling fibers of halite that are found in certain arid caves of Australia's Nullarbor Plain. Halite stalactites and encrustations are also reported in the Quincy native copper mine of Hancock, Michigan.

Uses[edit]
Salt is used extensively in cooking as a flavor enhancer, and to cure a wide variety of foods such as bacon and fish.Larger pieces can be ground in a salt mill or dusted over food from a shaker as finishing salt.

Halite is also often used both residentially and municipally for managing ice. Because brine (a solution of water and salt) has a lower freezing point than pure water, putting salt or saltwater on ice that is near 0 °C (32 °F) will cause it to melt. (This effect is called freezing-point depression.) It is common for homeowners in cold climates to spread salt on their sidewalks and driveways after a snow storm to melt the ice. It is not necessary to use so much salt that the ice is completely melted; rather, a small amount of salt will weaken the ice so that it can be easily removed by other means. Also, many cities will spread a mixture of sand and salt on roads during and after a snowstorm to improve traction. In addition to de-icing, rock salt is occasionally used in agriculture. An example of this would be inducing salt stress to suppress the growth of annual meadow grass in turf production.

Some cultures, especially in Africa, prefer a wide variety of different rock salts for different dishes. Pure salt is avoided as particular colors of salt indicates the presence of different impurities. Many recipes call for particular kinds of rock salt, and imported pure salt often has impurities added to adapt to local tastes.