Salt-concrete (orsalzbeton) is abuilding material that is used to reduce the water inflow inmining shafts in salt mines. It is composed of 16%cement, 39%halite, 16%limestone powder, 14%water and 15% sand.[1]
Salt-concrete was used for the first time in 1984 in thepotash mine in Rocanville inCanada.[2] A salt-concrete seal was also installed in theAsse II mine inLower Saxony in 1995.[3]
Since the end of therepository for radioactive waste Morsleben in 1998, thesalt dome stability deteriorated to a state where it could collapse. Since 2003, a volume of 480,000 m3 of salt-concrete has been pumped into the pit to temporarily stabilize the upper levels. In addition another 4,000,000 m3 of salt-concrete will be used to temporarily stabilize the lower levels.[4]