The work aims to study the distribution law of salt or elements in mural herpes so as to provide basis for mural salts damage treatment. The morphology, structure, internal elements and composition of the herpes were investigated by virtue of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray energy spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM and FESEM clearly showed that the herpes surfaces were covered by clay with a major composition of inorganic crystals of salt in the core herpes. Furthermore, cubic or cube-like salt crystals could be observed on cross-sections of the herpes. According to the results of FESEM and EDS analysis, the Na and Cl elements were main components of salt crystals in the majority of herpes, and Ca, S, Mg and other elements could also be detected in some herpes. More specifically, some elements, such as Na and Cl, Ca and S, exhibited good proportionality. On the basis of above results, it can be concluded that the inorganic salts in mural herpes are mainly composed of soluble salt NaCl, and a small number of herpes contains soluble salt or sparingly soluble salt such as CaCl2, CaSO4, MgSO4.