Asked by yo

Where does the salt in oceans come from?

rocks and minerals on land
rainfall and snowfall
dead plants and animals
energy from the Sun

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Rocks and minerals on land.

Chemical weathering breaks down minerals (e.g., feldspars) and releases dissolved ions (sodium, calcium, chloride, sulfate, etc.). Rainwater and rivers carry those dissolved salts to the sea, and evaporation leaves the salts behind so they accumulate. Additional sources include submarine hydrothermal vents and volcanic gases, but the dominant source is weathering of rocks on land. Rain/snow are mostly fresh water, dead organisms contribute only small amounts, and the Sun only drives evaporation — it doesn’t create the salt.