Hydrology and surface morphology of the Bonneville Salt Flats and Pilot Valley playa, Utah

Lines, Gregory C.

doi:10.3133/ofr7818

Cited by 23 publications

(58 citation statements)

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“…As inundating surface waters evaporate, the mineral solutes become more concentrated and only the most soluble species will remain in solution. This results in concentric bands of calcium carbonates around the playa rim, gypsiferous minerals nearer the middle, and halite minerals in the center (Hunt 1966, Lines 1979. Accurate identification of individual mineral types requires use of laboratory equipment, but gross changes in mineralogy can be seen in the field.…”

Section: Salt Crystalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lines (1979) and Lichvar and Sprecher (1998) have found thin black layers in playas at White Sands Missile Range and Bonneville Salt Flats, respectively. Those at White Sands Missile Range have a greasy feel and H 2 S odor when wet (Lichvar and Sprecher 1998); the black layers appear to have a very high abundance of bacteria, based on light microscopy, compared to other playa substrata (Brostoff, personal observation).…”

Section: Accumulations Of Organic Mattermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Malek et al (1990) report that the area ponded with water in the playa in Pilot Valley, Utah, may move several miles in response to changes in wind direction. Sheets of water have been observed to breach minor drainage divides on playa surfaces during periods of high wind (Lines 1979), thus resulting in changes in the areal extent of coverage until the next flooding or drying cycle. Motts (1972) commented on the high rate of water movement on playas (Rogers and Rosamond Playas, California) in relation to wind velocity; although he reported rates of up to 1.82 m (6 ft) per minute in response to a 42-mph wind, he did not report on the areas occupied by standing water.…”

Section: Playa Hydrologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diameter may be 0.3048-0.6096 m (1-2 ft). These have been described for Bonneville Salt flats in the United States and Chilean salars (Lines 1979) and are also common at the Salton Sea, California (Sprecher, personal observation).…”

Section: Patterns Associated With Evaporitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pressure-ridge salt crusts (Lines 1979) are initially flat, smooth crusts formed by evaporating surface brines. As the crust dries and additional salt is deposited on the surface by evaporating groundwater, the crust expands and forms sharp pressure ridges.…”

Section: Patterns Associated With Evaporitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Final Report on Contract N00014-92-C-0173 (Office of Naval Research)

Philpott¹

2001

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Section: Salt Crystalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Accumulations Of Organic Mattermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Playa Hydrologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Patterns Associated With Evaporitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Patterns Associated With Evaporitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Final Report on Contract N00014-92-C-0173 (Office of Naval Research)

Philpott¹

2001

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Near‐infrared spectroscopy of lacustrine sediments in the Great Salt Lake Desert: An analog study for Martian paleolake basins

et al. 2015

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The identification and characterization of aqueous minerals within ancient lacustrine environments on Mars are a high priority for determining the past habitability of the red planet. Terrestrial analog studies are useful both for understanding the mineralogy of lacustrine sediments, how the mineralogy varies with location in a lacustrine environment, and for validating the use of certain techniques such as visible-near-infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy. In this study, sediments from the Pilot Valley paleolake basin of the Great Salt Lake desert were characterized using VNIR as an analog for Martian paleolake basins. The spectra and subsequent interpretations were then compared to mineralogical characterization by ground truth methods, including X-ray diffraction, automated scanning electron microscopy, and several geochemical analysis techniques. In general, there is good agreement between VNIR and ground truth methods on the major classes of minerals present in the lake sediments and VNIR spectra can also easily discriminate between clay-dominated and salt-dominated lacustrine terrains within the paleolake basin. However, detection of more detailed mineralogy is difficult with VNIR spectra alone as some minerals can dominate the spectra even at very low abundances. At this site, the VNIR spectra are dominated by absorption bands that are most consistent with gypsum and smectites, though the ground truth methods reveal more diverse mineral assemblages that include a variety of sulfates, primary and secondary phyllosilicates, carbonates, and chlorides. This study provides insight into the limitations regarding the use of VNIR in characterizing complex mineral assemblages inherent in lacustrine settings.

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Surface evolution of salt‐encrusted playas under extreme and continued dryness

Artieda

Dávila

Wierzchos

et al. 2015

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Miocene continental saltpans are scattered in the Central Valley of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions on Earth. These evaporitic deposits are hydrologically inactive, and are detached from groundwater brines or aquifers. The surface of the saltpans, also known as salars, comprises desiccation polygons, commonly with nodular salt structures along their sides. The morphology and bulk mineralogy of salt polygons differs between and within salars, and the shape and internal structure of salt nodules varies between different polygon types. Based on field observation, and mineralogy and crystallography data, we generated a conceptual model for the genesis and evolution of these surface features, whereby rare rainfall events are responsible for the transformation of desiccation salt polygons and the initial formation of salt nodules along polygon borders. In addition, frequent, but less intense, deliquescence events further drive the evolution of salt nodules, resulting in a characteristic internal structure that includes laminations, and changes in porosity and crystal morphologies. As a result, and despite the extreme dryness, the surfaces of fossil salars are dynamic on timescales of several years to decades, in response to daily cycles in atmospheric moisture, and also to rare and meager rainfall events. We propose that fossil salars in the Atacama Desert represent an end stage in the evolution of evaporitic deposits under extreme and prolonged dryness.

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Hydrology and surface morphology of the Bonneville Salt Flats and Pilot Valley playa, Utah

Cited by 23 publications

References 0 publications

Final Report on Contract N00014-92-C-0173 (Office of Naval Research)

Final Report on Contract N00014-92-C-0173 (Office of Naval Research)

Near‐infrared spectroscopy of lacustrine sediments in the Great Salt Lake Desert: An analog study for Martian paleolake basins

Surface evolution of salt‐encrusted playas under extreme and continued dryness

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