| Abstract: | Playa evaporite mineral deposits show major compositional variations related to differences in lithology, hydrology, and groundwater geochemistry. The use of visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectral reflectance measurements as a technique for investigating the mineralogy of playa efflorescent crusts is examined. Samples of efflorescent crust were collected from 4 playa: Bristol Dry Lake, Saline Valley, Teels Marsh, and Rhodes Marsh--all located in eastern California and western Nevada. Laboratory and field spectral analyses coupled with X-ray diffraction analyses of the crusts yielded the following observations: VNIR spectra of unweathered salt crusts can be used to infer the general chemistry of near-surface brines; VNIR spectra are very sensitive for detecting minor hydrate mineral phases contained in mixtures with anhydrous, spectrally featureless, minerals such as halite (NaCl) and thernardite (Na2So4); borate minerals exhibit particularly strong VNIR spectral features that permit small amounts of borate to be detected in efflorescent salt crusts; remote sensing spectral measurements of playa efflorescent crusts may have applications in global studies of playa brines and minerals. |
| Genre: | Conference Paper |
| ProdID: | 70016378 |
| Citation Author: | Crowley, James, K. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | |
| Citation Issue: | |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Digest - International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | Publ by IEEE |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | A spectral reflectance study (0.4-2.5 ??m) of selected playa evaporite mineral deposits and related geochemical processes; 1990; Conference Paper; Digest - International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS); Crowley, James, K. |
| Citation Start Page: | 965 |
| Citation Volume: | 2 |
| Citation Year: | 1990 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | A spectral reflectance study (0.4-2.5 ??m) of selected playa evaporite mineral deposits and related geochemical processes; 1990; Conference Paper; Digest - International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS); Crowley, James, K. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Mon, 1 Jan 1990 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | Publ by IEEE |
