Notable Examples of Thick Evaporites in Geological Basins

Evaporites form when dissolved salts precipitate out of sea water due to concentration during distillation.

Sea water typically contains 35 grams per liter of dissolved ions.

The least soluble compounds precipitate last during the formation of evaporites.

Temperature has no effect on the amount of ions precipitated during the formation of evaporites.

Calcium sulphate can precipitate as gypsum or anhydrite during the evaporite formation process.

Gypsum and anhydrite are the most commonly encountered evaporite minerals in sedimentary rocks.

Evaporites are formed from the precipitation of minerals dissolved in water

The evaporites in the Michigan Basin are thicker than those in the Messinian of the Mediterranean basin

Gypsum and anhydrite are examples of irreversible reactions in evaporite formation

Evaporites are commonly found in marine basin settings due to the high evaporation rates

The Upper Silurian evaporites of the Michigan Basin are older than the Messinian evaporites of the Mediterranean basin

Evaporites are commonly found only in marine environments.

Gypsen and anhydrite are examples of evaporite minerals.

Evaporite minerals like gypsen can act as cap rocks to carbonate reservoir rocks.

Salt diapirism is a process involving the formation of gypsen.

Reversible reactions can convert anhydrite into gypsum under certain conditions.