POTASH SALTS AND OTHER SALINES IN THE GREAT BASIN REGION. 
5S 
Dolbear * presents the following estimate of quantities for the 47-foot bed of brine 
and crystallized salts: 
In brine: Tons. 
Potassium chloride 6, 455, 600 
Anhydrous borax 1, 900, 000 
Sodium carbonate 6, 630, 000 
In saline material: 
Potassium chloride 23, 900, 000 
Anhydrous borax 15, 200, 000 
Sodium carbonate 108, 500, 000 
Sodium bicarbonate 42, 700, 000 
Weight of brine 144, 000, 000 
» Weight of salts 656, 000, 000 
The figures given are conservative. Dolbear states that the brine contains 4.49 
per cent of potassium chloride. The result upon the Bureau of Soils samples is less 
than this, 3.51 per cent being obtained by their analyses. 
Comparison of saline residues. 
[Per cent of anhydrous residue.] 
Ca. 
Mg. 
Na. 
K. 
CI. 
Br. 
I. 
S0 4 . 
CO,. 
PO4. 
AsO». 
B4O7. 
Searles 
0.0 
.002 
1,05 
.02 
.04 
.33 
.25 
.55 
.90 
Trace. 
0.003 
.64 
.01 
.10 
2.22 
2.28 
.49 
1.56 
33.57 
36.12 
35.14 
38.09 
37.93 
33.31 
33.84 
36.68 
34.83 
6.06 
2.63 
2.94 
1.62 
1.85 
1.92 
2.11 
1.94 
37.02 
53.70 
58.86 
24.82 
23.34 
55.36 
41.04 
47.88 
23.77 
0.094 
0.004 
12.93 
5,62 
1.26 
9.93 
6.70 
.18 
.30 
24. 55 
0.30 
0.0S3 
3.00 
Death Valley 
Present. 
Trace. 
.11 
.05 
.14 
12.86 23 42 
.32 
Great Salt Lake 2 
6.53 
5.25 
3.76 
21.29 
.07 
14.28 
7.93 
17.34 
Pyramid 2 
1 
Walker 2 
1 
1 Owens Lake, nitrate=0.45 per cent. 
2 Clarke, Bui. No. 491, U. S. Geol. Survey, pp. 144-146. 
Comparison of the saline residues from residual brines, from lake waters in which 
concentration has proceeded to a considerable extent and from lake waters in which 
concentration is in initial stages is shown in the accompanying table. Regional dif- 
ferences are, of course, apparent, and must be considered. With the exception of the 
calcium and magnesium content, the saline residue of the Death Valley brine closely 
approximates that from Great Salt Lake. Silver Peak is lower in sulphates but more 
nearly approximates Death Valley. Mono and Owens Lake closely compare and, 
save for the higher proportion of carbonate, approximate the Searles brine. The 
residues of Pyramid and Winnemucca are relatively higher in chlorides and lower in 
sulphates than Mono and Owens. The residue of Walker Lake is high in sulphates 
and carbonates and lower in chlorides than Pyramid or Winnemucca. Little concen- 
tration of potassium is indicated in the last two groups, but decided concentration is 
shown in the first group, and borates are progressively concentrated from the third 
to the first group. Nitrate is concentrated from the third to the second group. Great 
Salt Lake is the only water in the second and third groups in which precipitation of 
salines is taking place. This residue can be considered intermediate between groups 
land 2. 
COLUMBUS MARSH. 
Columbus Marsh is near Coaldale, Esmeralda County, Nev. The area is 32.5 square 
miles. It receives the drainage of Fish Lake Valley from the south and the basin 
immediately surrounding the marsh. Two shore lines are present, one about 60 feet 
above the flat and the other, reported by E. E. Free, at 104 feet. The lake could not 
have been of much greater extent than the marsh. The comparative shallowness 
would indicate a relatively small amount of salines. The present surface is a broad 
plain roughened by very small, more or less rounded, hummocks. There is very little 
salt in the form of crusts. The surface is dry enough at most times to support a road 
Eng. and Mining Jour, cited before. 
