Coastal Evaporite Systems

Abstract

Sedimentological study of modern coastal evaporites began in the early 1960’s with the discoveries of dolomite, sulfates, and other minerals within the coastal sabkhas of the Arabo-Persian Gulf, demonstrating that evaporite formation was not limited to subaquatic environments. These initial studies of Wells (1962) and colleagues of Shell Research (The Netherlands) and of Shearman (1963) and other researchers of Imperial College (London) have been followed by numerous, often very detailed studies concerning the sedimentology, hydrology, mineralogy, and ecology of littoral evaporitic environments, notably in Abu Dhabi, the Caribbean region, Mexico, Australia and N. Africa. Especially detailed studies of coastal evaporite environments have been carried out along the Sinai coast by Gavish (1974 a, b, 1980) and colleagues, the essential results of which are presented in this volume.