Table of Contents
Quick answer
Evaporites form when saline water evaporates, leaving minerals like halite, gypsum, and potash. Salt deposits worldwide are mostly evaporite halite.
A sedimentary mineral deposit formed by the evaporation of water, typically seawater or lake water. Salt (halite) is the most common evaporite. Other evaporite minerals include gypsum, anhydrite, and potash.
Evaporites are sedimentary minerals left when water evaporates from seas or lakes. Halite (salt) is the most common evaporite. Gypsum, anhydrite, and potash form in the same settings and are mined for construction and fertilizer.
In Practice
The thick halite beds at Khewra formed as ancient seas dried. Dry lake beds in Nevada yield halite and gypsum layers drilled for industrial use.
Evaporite FAQ
Halite, or rock salt, is the most abundant evaporite mineral.