By Vania Raebel | October 4, 2019
The Great Lake State, Part 2
Looking at this satellite view of Michigan, you would think that the state is covered completely in snow. You would be mistaken though: in reality, that white stuff is a very strong type of white salt. It is sprinkled generously on the roads during winter to help melt the snow and make them passable. However, while it might prove helpful in addressing the ice problem, it can damage the undercarriage of a vehicle.
The salt used to de-ice the Michigan highways has three main ingredients: sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride. The latter two could be used as liquids, and are more effective than solid rock salt in melting ice. The road salt is acquired through deep shaft mining, solution mining, and solar evaporation. The salt, once appropriately crushed, is applied generously prior to a storm to avoid build-up and hasten the melting process.
