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5.1.2 Evaporite Deposits

Evaporite minerals, such as gypsum, anhydrite, halite, aragonite and calcite, precipitate in saline lakes when high evaporation rates exceed inflow resulting in the increase of the salinity. Salts are also added and concentrated in basins with no external drainage. In some deposits, alternating thin layers of evaporite minerals indicate seasonal and climatic changes.

In the saline lakes, high-level stages may also produce beaches and wave-cut cliffs which stand above the flat-lying evaporite deposits.


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Soda Lake playa
Soda Lake playa
Earth Science Slides by John S. Shelton
Soda Lake playa  Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah  Salt Polygons 

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