earthstory:Surreal gypsumGypsum is an evaporite mineral, formed by the precipitation of saturated mi

earthstory:

Surreal gypsum

Gypsum is an evaporite mineral, formed by the precipitation of saturated minerals from solution in arid climates, often in lagoon or endorheic lakes (those that drain a catchment but have no exits from their basins, such as the Great Salt Lake in the USA or Lake Turkana). Here one sees several ancient lake crusts, with needle like crystals that have grown between them, much like the copper sulphates crystals we all grew on strings as kids.

Loz

Image credit: Craig Elliot