This paper is the result of mineral exploration engineering.

Objective As one of the earliest minerals utilized and recognized by mankind, rock salt plays a key role as a basic raw material in the chemical industry, and thus enjoys the reputation of “the mother of the chemical industry”. With the vigorous development of national economy and the continuous progress of science and technology, the status of rock salt in the national economic system is becoming more and more prominent, and its application scope is also expanding. Therefore, it is of great significance to summarize the resource profile, deposit type, development application and prospect analysis of rock salt in China for the development of rock salt industry in China.

Methods This paper collects domestic and foreign published data and information as well as reads relevant literature to sort out the resource distribution of rock salt deposits in China, summarize the characteristics of the types of rock salt deposits in China, summarize their development and application, and analyze the prospects of mineral exploration salt mines.

Results The types of rock salt deposits are mainly categorized into marine carbonate rock type, terrestrial clastic rock type, quaternary salt lake type and underground brine type. At present, China's rock salt resource reserves have reached 14.29 billion tons, very rich in resources, of which Qinghai Province has the largest resource reserves, accounting for more than 35% of the country's total resources, rock salt deposits are mainly distributed in Qinghai, Hubei, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Jiangxi and other places. As China's sodium resource reserves are very considerable, sodium-ion batteries have unique advantages, and the future of sodium-ion batteries in the field of power and energy storage will have a broader application prospects.

Conclusions Cangdong Depression, Jinxian Depression, Baxian Depression, Dongying Depression, Dawenkou Depression, and Hongze Depression in the North China Basin; Sichuan Basin and adjacent areas, especially Nanchong Depression; Tsarhan Mineral Settlement, Mahai Mineral Settlement, Dalangtan Mineral Settlement, and Chaika Rock Salt Mineral Settlement in the Qaidam Basin; and Mangal Depression in the northeastern Tarim Basin are potential prospecting areas for rock salt deposits.