Parabolic halite dunes on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Palaeoenvironmental interpretation in desert and evaporitic sediments is often ambiguous. Consequently, the recognition of primary sedimentary structures that indicate subaerial exposure or shallow marine conditions are therefore of crucial importance when interpreting marginal sedimentary evaporite...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sedimentary geology 2003-01, Vol.155 (1), p.147-156
Main Author: Svendsen, Johan B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Altiplano
Evaporites
Halite
Parabolic dunes
Salar de Uyuni
Salt flat
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Summary:Palaeoenvironmental interpretation in desert and evaporitic sediments is often ambiguous. Consequently, the recognition of primary sedimentary structures that indicate subaerial exposure or shallow marine conditions are therefore of crucial importance when interpreting marginal sedimentary evaporite facies. Parabolic halite dunes, described here for the first time, are observed on the salt crust of the largest salt flat in the world, the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. The halite dunes are relatively small (0.7–1.3 m in width and length), well-defined lobate to hemicyclic parabolic dunes, and are formed directly on the salt crust. A model describing the formation and migration of the dunes in relation to brine level and climatic conditions is presented.
ISSN:0037-0738
1879-0968
DOI:10.1016/S0037-0738(02)00206-3