48 



THE SALTON SEA. 



Sodium has increased 18.9 per cent, but potassium remains stationary. This latter 

 fact is interesting, and confirmatory of an observation not heretofore reported, namely, 

 that since 1908 the ratio of potassium to total solids in the waters of Salton Lake has stead- 

 ily decreased. 



The sample for the annual complete analysis was taken on June 13, 1913, and the 



results are given in table 18. 



Table 18. 



Total solids (dried at 110° C.) plus water of 



occlusion and hydration 1,002.56 



Water of occlusion and hydration 32. G 



Sodium, Na 323.08 



Potassium, K 3.45 



Calcium, Ca 19 75 



Magnesium, Mg 16.22 



Aluminium, Al -125 



Iron, Fe 03S 



Manganese, Mn none 



Zinc, Zn none 



Lead, Pb none 



Copper, Cu 



Lithium, Li 



Chlorine, CI 473.89 



Sulphuric, SO« 124.65 



Bicarbonic, HCOa (volumetrically) . 

 Carbonic, CO2, total (gravimetrically). 



Silicic, SiOi 



Phosphoric, PO4 



Nitric, NOj 



Nitrous, NO2 



Oxygen consumed 



Boric acid 



15.74 

 11.28 

 2.18 



trace 

 none 

 none 

 .110 

 trace 



During 373 days from June 10, 1912, to June 18, 1913, the total solids in Salton Sea 

 water have increased from S40.55 parts to 1,002.56 parts per 100,000, an increase of 18.4 

 per cent for the period. When calculated for the year ending June 3, 1913, by the method 

 suggested in the Twenty-second Annual Report, Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 the annual increase becomes 17.7 per cent (17.5 for the year ending June 3, 1912). The 

 Salton water may now be considered as 1 per cent brine. 



Calcium, again, showed a marked decrease, having concentrated only 14.5 per cent, 

 and some additional calcium undoubtedly was brought into the sink by drainage. The 

 total carbon dioxide, as also the bicarbonic radicle, show a less concentration than in 

 1912. The decrease in carbon dioxide is slightly greater than required by the decrease 

 in calcium, as shown by analysis. This is due, probably, to drainage water carrying cal- 

 cium salts other than bicarbonate. 



The most interesting feature brought out by this year's analysis is the rapidly in- 

 creasing rate at which potassium is disappearing. It became apparent in 1912 that the 

 ratio of potassium to sodium and to total solids was decreasing rapidly, the number of 

 parts per 100,000 in 1912 having remained the same as in 1911. The analysis this year 

 shows less potassium than in 1913, although sodium has increased 19.3 per cent. The 

 ratio of potassium to sodium and to total solids during the seven years that the Salton 

 water has been analyzed is traced in table 19. 



Table 19. — Annual ration of potassium to sodium and to total soluls in Salton Sea water. 



