Silver Peak Marsh, Esmeralda County, Nevada, USAi

Regional Level Types
Silver Peak Marsh	Marshes
Esmeralda County	County
Nevada	State
USA	Country

Tectonics: Basin And Range

Deposit: For more detailed information, see papke, 1976. The playa extends about 10 miles in a northeasterly direction and covers an area of about 32 square miles. The present drainage area is about 570 square miles. Mineable horizon is up to 460 m thick and covers an area of at least 8300 ha, producing area is reported As approximately 3 sq miles. Brine is almost always present below 30 m depth. The northeastern two-thirds of the playa is underlain at about a 20-ft depth by beds of halite-rich material 5 to 15 ft thick. One bed, 10-ft thick, underlies more than 15 sq miles. Thin streaks of ulexite in shale have been reported at the northeastern corner of the marsh. The main brine aquifers include a volcanic ash bed (3-35 ft thick at depths of 200-700 ft) and some relatively permeable halite beds. Discovery year: early 1900's

Development: The playa was explored in 1911 for potash by the USGS. Exploration for lithium began in 1960. ; econ.com: the brine is economic due to its shallo W depth, a lo W magnesium to lithium ratio, the local arid climate and high rate of evaporation, flat areas with nearly impermeable surface suitable for evaporation ponds, and the local presence of suitable construction materials for berms and roads.

Geology: The drainage area may once have been far larger than the current 570 sq miles and may have included the big smoky valley. The water table is near the surface. The playa sediments may be As much As 1500 ft thick. The basin is divided into two parts by a bedrock ridge that rises to within 700 ft of the playa surface.

Rock formation(s): Esmeralda Formation

Fossils

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References

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:	10023695

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