Salt lick

Noun

A natural deposit or man-made structure containing valuable minerals like salt, which animals lick to satisfy their mineral requirements.

Sense 1: Animal nutrition

In the context of animal nutrition, a salt lick is an important source of essential minerals for livestock and wild animals.

Usage:

• The rancher set up a salt lick in the pasture to provide adequate mineral intake for the cows.
• During the dry season, elephants travel long distances to find salt licks in order to supplement their diet.

Sense 2: Geology

From a geological perspective, a salt lick is a natural formation where salt-rich groundwater rises to the surface.

Usage:

• The formation of the salt lick in the national park attracts various bird species for feeding and observation.
• The geologists discovered an underground salt lick while conducting exploration for groundwater resources.