Salt in the Earth Sciences

A comprehensive review of salt deposition in sedimentary environments worldwide

Salt is formed when water rich in evaporite minerals accumulates on the Earth’s surface and then evaporates. Over time, pressure and tectonics change the structure and shape of salt layers. Recent technological advances have improved the interpretation and modeling of subsurface salt structures.

Salt in the Earth Sciences: Evaporite Rocks and Salt Deposition presents a global overview of salt deposition and deformation in sedimentary basins, synthesizing data analysis, observations, theories, and modeling.

Volume highlights include:

• Overview of salt use by humans from prehistoric times to the modern industrial world
• Chemical and physical principles of evaporite deposition in sedimentary basins
• Effects of gravity and tectonic forces on rock salt deformation
• Development of salt structures in orogenic belts and deep basins
• Seismic interpretation methods for identification of subsurface salt structures
• Key sedimentological models for evaporite deposition in continental and marine environments
• Global examples ranging from modern hypersaline rift lakes to ancient marine salt basins

Browse the other volume in this set, Salt in the Earth Sciences: Basin Analysis and Salt Tectonics

The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.

Preface vii

Acknowledgments ix

1 A Brief History of Salt and Its Influence on Civilization 1

Part I Chemical and Physical Properties of Evaporite Rocks

2 Basic Scientific Concepts for the Interpretation of Evaporites 33

3 Salt Structures and Salt Outcrops 71

4 Evaporite Minerals in Salt Formations 121

5 Basic Chemical and Physical Properties of Evaporite Rocks 153

6 Rheology of Evaporite Rocks, Salt Deformation, and Fluid Flow 187

7 Mineral Analysis of Evaporite Rocks in Sedimentary Basins 237

Part II Salt Deposition in Different Sedimentary Environments

8 Salt Deposition Models and Sedimentary Environments 287

9 Saline Lakes and Salt Deposition in Extensional Settings 333

10 Saline Lakes in Convergent Settings 377

11 Evaporite Deposition in Lacustrine and Shallow Marine Carbonate Platform Environments 435

12 Genetic Models for Basinwide Evaporites 491

Index 539

Webster Mohriak, Rio de Janeiro State University, Brazil

Salt in the Earth Sciences
Evaporite Rocks and Salt Deposition

Salt is formed when water rich in evaporite minerals accumulates on the Earth’s surface and then evaporates. Over time, pressure and tectonics change the structure and shape of salt layers. Recent technological advances have improved the interpretation and modeling of subsurface salt structures.

Salt in the Earth Sciences: Evaporite Rocks and Salt Deposition presents a global overview of salt deposition and deformation in sedimentary basins, synthesizing data analysis, observations, theories, and modeling.

Volume highlights include:

• Overview of salt use by humans from prehistoric times to the modern industrial world
• Chemical and physical principles of evaporite deposition in sedimentary basins
• Effects of gravity and tectonic forces on rock salt deformation
• Development of salt structures in orogenic belts and deep basins
• Seismic interpretation methods for identification of subsurface salt structures
• Key sedimentological models for evaporite deposition in continental and marine environments
• Global examples ranging from modern hypersaline rift lakes to ancient marine salt basins

The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.