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Owens Lake, Olancha, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, USAi
Regional Level Types
Owens LakeDry Lake
OlanchaUnincorporated Community
Owens ValleyValley
Inyo CountyCounty
CaliforniaState
USACountry

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PhotosMapsSearchMineralogy
06668450017272011059277.jpg
Owens Lake (dry)

Owens Lake, Olancha, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
09585930017272011068356.jpg
Owens Lake (dry)

Owens Lake, Olancha, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
03501900017272093202608.jpg
Processing facilities for Owens Lake Mine

Owens Lake Mine, Dirty Socks Spring, Owens Lake, Olancha, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
06668450017272011059277.jpg
Owens Lake (dry)

Owens Lake, Olancha, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
09585930017272011068356.jpg
Owens Lake (dry)

Owens Lake, Olancha, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
07866620017361018731695.jpg
Processing facilities for Owens Lake Mine

Owens Lake Mine, Dirty Socks Spring, Owens Lake, Olancha, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
06668450017272011059277.jpg
Owens Lake (dry)

Owens Lake, Olancha, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
09585930017272011068356.jpg
Owens Lake (dry)

Owens Lake, Olancha, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, USA
Type:
Dry Lake
Mindat Locality ID:
3519
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:3519:7
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other Languages:
View 7 more...
French:
lac Owens, Olancha, Comté d'Inyo, Californie, États-Unis
German:
Owens Lake, Olancha, Inyo County, Kalifornien, Vereinigte Staaten
Russian:
Оуэнс , Иньо, Калифорния, Соединённые Штаты Америки
Catalan:
Owens Lake, Olancha, Califòrnia, Estats Units d’Amèrica
Cebuano:
Owens Lake , Olancha, Inyo County, California
Czech:
Owens Lake, Inyo County, Kalifornie, Spojené státy americké
Dutch:
Owens Lake, Olancha, Inyo County, Verenigde Staten
Hebrew:
אגם אוונס, קליפורניה, ארצות הברית
Japanese:
オーエンズ湖, インヨー郡, カリフォルニア州, アメリカ合衆国
Turkish:
Owens Gölü, Olancha, Inyo County, Kaliforniya, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri


Owens Lake is a mostly dry lake in the Owens Valley on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in Inyo County, California. It is about 5 miles (ca. 8 km) south of Lone Pine. Unlike most dry lakes in the Basin and Range Province that have been dry for thousands of years, Owens held significant water until 1913. Much of the Owens River was diverted into the Los Angeles Aqueduct, causing Owens Lake to desiccate by 1926. In 2006, 5% of the water flow was restored. As of 2013, it is the largest single source of dust pollution in the United States.

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

17 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:

ⓘ Analcime
Formula: Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Description: Occurs in lake beds. Formed by post-depositional reactions.
ⓘ Aragonite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Borax
Formula: Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘ Burkeite
Formula: Na6(CO3)(SO4)2
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ 'Clay minerals'
ⓘ 'Clinoptilolite Subgroup'
Formula: (Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ 'Erionite Subgroup'
Formula: M2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O
ⓘ Gaylussite
Formula: Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Description: Occurs in lake bed deposits.
References:
Smith, George Irving & W.P. Pratt (1957), Core logs from Owens, China, Searles and Panamint Basins, California: USGS Bulletin 1045-A: 5
Hay, Richard Le Roy & Richard J. Moiola (1963), Authigenic silicate minerals in three desert lakes of eastern California (abstract): Program New York Meeting, Geological Society of America: 76A
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 151, 197
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
Smith, George I, Friedman, Irving, McLaughlin, Robert J (1987) Studies of Quaternary saline lakes—III. Mineral, chemical, and isotopic evidence of salt solution and crystallization processes in Owens Lake, California, 1969–1971. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 51 (4) 811-827 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(87)90095-0pp.813-827
ⓘ Halite
Formula: NaCl
ⓘ Kalinite
Formula: KAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O
Description: Occurs on the lake shores.
ⓘ Mirabilite
Formula: Na2SO4 · 10H2O
Description: Dissolved in large quantities in the lake water.
ⓘ Nahcolite
Formula: NaHCO3
ⓘ Native Sulphur
Formula: S8
ⓘ Natron
Formula: Na2CO3 · 10H2O
Description: Occurs dissolved in lake waters.
ⓘ 'Phillipsite Subgroup'
Formula: (Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O
ⓘ Pirssonite
Formula: Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O
ⓘ Thénardite
Formula: Na2SO4
ⓘ Thermonatrite
Formula: Na2CO3 · H2O
ⓘ Trona
Formula: Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Colour: White
Description: LAyers of nearly pure material along shores.
References:
USGS Bulletin 419: 256
Chatard, T.M. (1890a), On urao: American Journal of Science, 3rd. series: 38: 59
Clarke, F.W. (1910), Analyses of rocks and minerals from the laboratory of the United States Geological Survey, 1880-1908
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.139
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 374
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
Smith, George I, Friedman, Irving, McLaughlin, Robert J (1987) Studies of Quaternary saline lakes—III. Mineral, chemical, and isotopic evidence of salt solution and crystallization processes in Owens Lake, California, 1969–1971. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 51 (4) 811-827 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(87)90095-0pp.813-827
Moore, Thomas P. (2001) What's New in Minerals - Tucson Show 2001. The Mineralogical Record, 32 (3) 245-257

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Sulphur1.CC.05S8
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘHalite3.AA.20NaCl
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘNahcolite5.AA.15NaHCO3
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘAragonite5.AB.15CaCO3
ⓘThermonatrite5.CB.05Na2CO3 · H2O
ⓘNatron5.CB.10Na2CO3 · 10H2O
ⓘTrona5.CB.15Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
ⓘPirssonite5.CB.30Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O
ⓘGaylussite5.CB.35Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Group 6 - Borates
ⓘBorax6.DA.10Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘThénardite7.AD.25Na2SO4
ⓘBurkeite7.BD.25Na6(CO3)(SO4)2
ⓘKalinite7.CC.15KAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O
ⓘMirabilite7.CD.10Na2SO4 · 10H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘAnalcime9.GB.05Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Unclassified
ⓘ'Clay minerals'-
ⓘ'Clinoptilolite Subgroup'-(Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
ⓘ'Erionite Subgroup'-M2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O
ⓘ'Phillipsite Subgroup'-(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Hⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Hⓘ Clinoptilolite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
Hⓘ Erionite SubgroupM2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O
Hⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Hⓘ KaliniteKAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O
Hⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Hⓘ NahcoliteNaHCO3
Hⓘ NatronNa2CO3 · 10H2O
Hⓘ Phillipsite Subgroup(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O
Hⓘ PirssoniteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Hⓘ ThermonatriteNa2CO3 · H2O
Hⓘ TronaNa3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
BBoron
Bⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
CCarbon
Cⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Cⓘ BurkeiteNa6(CO3)(SO4)2
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Cⓘ NahcoliteNaHCO3
Cⓘ NatronNa2CO3 · 10H2O
Cⓘ PirssoniteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Cⓘ ThermonatriteNa2CO3 · H2O
Cⓘ TronaNa3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Oⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Oⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Oⓘ BurkeiteNa6(CO3)(SO4)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Clinoptilolite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ Erionite SubgroupM2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O
Oⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Oⓘ KaliniteKAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O
Oⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Oⓘ NahcoliteNaHCO3
Oⓘ NatronNa2CO3 · 10H2O
Oⓘ Phillipsite Subgroup(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O
Oⓘ PirssoniteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Oⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
Oⓘ ThermonatriteNa2CO3 · H2O
Oⓘ TronaNa3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
NaSodium
Naⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Naⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Naⓘ BurkeiteNa6(CO3)(SO4)2
Naⓘ Clinoptilolite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
Naⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Naⓘ HaliteNaCl
Naⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Naⓘ NahcoliteNaHCO3
Naⓘ NatronNa2CO3 · 10H2O
Naⓘ Phillipsite Subgroup(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O
Naⓘ PirssoniteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Naⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
Naⓘ ThermonatriteNa2CO3 · H2O
Naⓘ TronaNa3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Alⓘ Clinoptilolite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
Alⓘ Erionite SubgroupM2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O
Alⓘ KaliniteKAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O
Alⓘ Phillipsite Subgroup(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Siⓘ Clinoptilolite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
Siⓘ Erionite SubgroupM2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O
Siⓘ Phillipsite Subgroup(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O
SSulfur
Sⓘ BurkeiteNa6(CO3)(SO4)2
Sⓘ KaliniteKAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O
Sⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Sⓘ Native SulphurS8
Sⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
ClChlorine
Clⓘ HaliteNaCl
KPotassium
Kⓘ Clinoptilolite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
Kⓘ KaliniteKAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O
Kⓘ Phillipsite Subgroup(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ Clinoptilolite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Caⓘ Phillipsite Subgroup(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O
Caⓘ PirssoniteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O
BaBarium
Baⓘ Phillipsite Subgroup(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O

Fossils

This region is too big or complex to display the fossil list, try looking at smaller subregions.

Other Databases

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owens_Lake
Wikidata ID:Q1780699
GeoNames ID:5380122

Localities in this Region

USA

Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect

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

Chatard, T.M. (1890a), On urao: American Journal of Science, 3rd. series: 38: 59-64; […USGS Bulletin 60: 75-78 (1890)]: 59.
Chatard, T.M. (1890b), Natural soda; Its occurrence and utilization: USGS Bulletin 60: 27-101.
Clarke, F.W. (1910), Analyses of rocks and minerals from the laboratory of the United States Geological Survey, 1880-1908; USGS Bulletin 419: 256.
Smith, George Irving & W.P. Pratt (1957), Core logs from Owens, China, Searles and Panamint Basins, California: USGS Bulletin 1045-A: 5
Hay, Richard Le Roy & Richard J. Moiola (1963), Authigenic silicate minerals in three desert lakes of eastern California (abstract): Program New York Meeting, Geological Society of America: 15-25, 67, 76A.
Hay, Richard L. (1964) Phillipsite of saline lakes and soils. American Mineralogist, 49 (9-10) 1366-1387 p.1369
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 71, 151, 197, 277-278, 287, 293, 374.
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
Brown, N., Lamos, P. & Scarr, I. (2003): Present-day features related to the deposition of trona at Owens Lake, California, and a comparison of the trona deposits of the Green River Basin, 36-40.
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