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Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USAi
Regional Level Types
Saline ValleyValley
Inyo CountyCounty
CaliforniaState
USACountry

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04919290017272010799005.jpg
Saline Valley 1988

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
00000450017272010812452.jpg
Quartz

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
06127010017272010824324.jpg
Smoky Quartz

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
07287080017272010836047.jpg
Quartz

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
04919290017272010799005.jpg
Saline Valley 1988

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
00000450017272010812452.jpg
Quartz

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
06127010017272010824324.jpg
Smoky Quartz

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
07287080017272010836047.jpg
Quartz

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
04919290017272010799005.jpg
Saline Valley 1988

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
01961730017272010948163.jpg
Quartz

Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
36° 42' 11'' North , 117° 48' 53'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
36.70306,-117.81500
GRN:
N25W68
Type:
Valley
Köppen climate type:
BWk : Cold desert climate
Mindat Locality ID:
3476
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:3476:3
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A N-S trending valley between the Inyo Range and the Panamint Range, on the western side of the Death Valley National Park.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

21 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Acanthite
Formula: Ag2S
ⓘ Analcime
Formula: Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Description: Occurs as micro-grains in sediments.
ⓘ Andradite
Formula: Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Borax
Formula: Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Description: Found in 1874 as a borax crust 6 to 24 inches (15 to 60 cm) thick.
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Description: Occurs in sediments.
ⓘ Cryptomelane
Formula: K(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
Description: Contains noteworthy amounts of tungstic acid. Principal mineral in a tufa apron where an extensive travertine blanket has been deposited.
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ Glauberite
Formula: Na2Ca(SO4)2
Description: Occurs in the playa.
References:
Gale, Hoyt Stoddard (1915), Salines in the Owens, Searles, and Panamint basins, southeastern California: USGS Bulletin 580: 303
Palache, Charles; Berman, Harry; Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons.
Hardie, L.A. (1968) The origin of the Recent nonmarine evaporate deposit of Saline Valley, Inyo County, California. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 32: 1287
Hardie, L.A. and Eugster, H.P. (1970) The evolution of closed-basin brines. Mineralogical Society of America Special Paper 3: 273
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
Cahit Helvaci, Federico Ortí, Javier García-Veigas, Laura Rosell, Ibrahim Gündoğan (2012). Neogene Borate Deposits: Mineralogy, Petrology and Sedimentology; A workshop with special emphasis on the Anatolian deposits International Earth Science Colloquium on the Aegean Region (IESCA-2012, İzmir, Turkey), 64 pp.
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
Description: Occurs as efflorescences, crusts and crystals in sands and muds.
ⓘ Halite
Formula: NaCl
Description: Occurs in unusually pure beds.
References:
Gale, Hoyt Stoddard (1914b), Salt, borax, and potash in Saline Valley, Inyo County, California: USGS Bulletin 540: 416
Ver Planck, Wm. E., Jr. (1958), Salt in California: California Division Mines Bulletin 25 (125 ?)
Hardie, L.A. (1968) The origin of the Recent nonmarine evaporate deposit of Saline Valley, Inyo County, California. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 32: 1287
Hardie, L.A. and Eugster, H.P. (1970) The evolution of closed-basin brines. Mineralogical Society of America Special Paper 3: 273
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
Cahit Helvaci, Federico Ortí, Javier García-Veigas, Laura Rosell, Ibrahim Gündoğan (2012). Neogene Borate Deposits: Mineralogy, Petrology and Sedimentology; A workshop with special emphasis on the Anatolian deposits International Earth Science Colloquium on the Aegean Region (IESCA-2012, İzmir, Turkey), 64 pp.
ⓘ Linarite
Formula: PbCu(SO4)(OH)2
ⓘ Mirabilite
Formula: Na2SO4 · 10H2O
ⓘ Native Silver
Formula: Ag
Description: Occurs as occassional sprinklings.
ⓘ Opal
Formula: SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Sepiolite
Formula: Mg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
Description: Occurs as micro-grains in sediments.
ⓘ 'Silica'
ⓘ Thénardite
Formula: Na2SO4
Description: Occurs as efflorescent crusts and as crystalline layers in sediments.
ⓘ Titanite
Formula: CaTiO(SiO4)
ⓘ Ulexite
Formula: NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Description: Occurs as scattered "cotton balls" a few mm diameter in valley sediments.
ⓘ Zoisite
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Description: Occurs as large, irregular patches in boulders.
ⓘ Zoisite var. Thulite
Formula: {Ca2}{Al,Mn3+3}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)
Description: Occurs as large, irregular patches in boulders.

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Silver1.AA.05Ag
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘAcanthite2.BA.35Ag2S
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘHalite3.AA.20NaCl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘOpal4.DA.10SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘCryptomelane4.DK.05aK(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
Group 6 - Borates
ⓘBorax6.DA.10Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘUlexite6.EA.25NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘGlauberite7.AD.25Na2Ca(SO4)2
ⓘThénardite7.AD.25Na2SO4
ⓘLinarite7.BC.65PbCu(SO4)(OH)2
ⓘMirabilite7.CD.10Na2SO4 · 10H2O
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘAndradite9.AD.25Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3
ⓘTitanite9.AG.15CaTiO(SiO4)
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘZoisite
var. Thulite		9.BG.10{Ca2}{Al,Mn3+3}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)
ⓘ9.BG.10(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘSepiolite9.EE.25Mg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
ⓘAnalcime9.GB.05Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Unclassified
ⓘ'Silica'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Hⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Hⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Hⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Hⓘ SepioliteMg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
Hⓘ Zoisite var. Thulite{Ca2}{Al,Mn33+}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)
Hⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Hⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
BBoron
Bⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Bⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Oⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Oⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ GlauberiteNa2Ca(SO4)2
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Oⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Oⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ SepioliteMg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
Oⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
Oⓘ Zoisite var. Thulite{Ca2}{Al,Mn33+}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)
Oⓘ TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
Oⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Oⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Naⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Naⓘ GlauberiteNa2Ca(SO4)2
Naⓘ HaliteNaCl
Naⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Naⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
Naⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ SepioliteMg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ Zoisite var. Thulite{Ca2}{Al,Mn33+}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)
Alⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Siⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ SepioliteMg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
Siⓘ Zoisite var. Thulite{Ca2}{Al,Mn33+}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)
Siⓘ TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
Siⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ AcanthiteAg2S
Sⓘ GlauberiteNa2Ca(SO4)2
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Sⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Sⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
ClChlorine
Clⓘ HaliteNaCl
KPotassium
Kⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ GlauberiteNa2Ca(SO4)2
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ Zoisite var. Thulite{Ca2}{Al,Mn33+}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)
Caⓘ TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
Caⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Caⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
MnManganese
Mnⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Mnⓘ Zoisite var. Thulite{Ca2}{Al,Mn33+}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)
FeIron
Feⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
CuCopper
Cuⓘ LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
AgSilver
Agⓘ AcanthiteAg2S
Agⓘ Native SilverAg
PbLead
Pbⓘ LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2

Localities in this Region

USA

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
USA

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Fleming, E.L. (1891), California borax: Chem. News: 63: 248
Gale, H.S. (1914) Salt, borax, and potash in Saline Valley, Inyo County, California. USGS Bulletin 540: 416-421.
Gale, H.S. (1915) Salines in the Owens, Searles, and Panamint basins, southeastern California. USGS Bulletin 580: 251-323; […(abstract): Geol. Zentralbl., Band 27: 172 (1921)]: 303.
Waring, C.A. and Huguenin, E. (1919) Inyo County. California Mining Bureau Report 15: 62.
Schaller, W. T., Glass, Jewell J. (1942) Occurrence of pink zoisite (thulite) in the United States. American Mineralogist, 27 (7) 519-524
Palache, Charles; Berman, Harry; Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons.p.347
Ver Planck, W.E., Jr. and Heizer, E. (1958) Salt in California. California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 25 (125?).
Murdoch, J. and Webb, R.W. (1966) Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966). California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 109, 200.
Hardie, L.A. (1968) The origin of the Recent nonmarine evaporate deposit of Saline Valley, Inyo County, California. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 32: 1287
Hardie, L.A. and Eugster, H.P. (1970) The evolution of closed-basin brines. Mineralogical Society of America Special Paper 3: 273
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
Cahit Helvaci, Federico Ortí, Javier García-Veigas, Laura Rosell, Ibrahim Gündoğan (2012). Neogene Borate Deposits: Mineralogy, Petrology and Sedimentology; A workshop with special emphasis on the Anatolian deposits International Earth Science Colloquium on the Aegean Region (IESCA-2012, İzmir, Turkey), 64 pp.
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