This research show some of the main relevant historical facts of the salt production evolution's since Portuguese colonization in South America, with focus in the space that today correspond to the Rio Grande do Norte State's. This activity did begin with the discovery and exploration of the natural accumulation and post productions of sea salt in artisanal salinas. Around of the 16th and 17th centuries, the salt production promoted the development of other related activities, been a major economic activities realized in the estuarine zones of the main rivers of the Capitania do Rio Grande. With the increase of the domestic demand (18th century), many artisanal salinas were constructed in the Northeast coast of Brazil. However, the rise of the Brazilian development policies by industrialization (mid 20th century), caused a strong impact in the salt activity, with the implementation of a salt industry, where the production and engineering processes are similar at the United States, with the modernization of the industry sectors for to supply the high domestic and exterior demand of the chemical industry, in expansion in the country.
Historic; Mineral exploration; Salinas; Rio Grande do Norte
