Salina Group
Quick Summary
The Salina Group is a significant geological formation primarily known for its extensive evaporite deposits, including salt (halite), anhydrite, and gypsum. These chemical precipitates typically form in layers through the evaporation of marine waters in shallow bays, a process most effective in warm, arid climates.
The Salina Group's strata were laid down during the Ludlow and Pridoli Epochs of the Upper Silurian period. It is particularly famous for its evaporite deposits, with a maximum aggregate thickness of 600 meters (1,970 feet) found in Michigan, where a single halite bed can reach 165 meters (540 feet). These deposits are found in parts of Michigan, Ohio, and New York in North America, as well as in various locations in Western Australia, Siberia, Latvia, and Lithuania.1
Separately, the Salado Formation, found in western Texas, is also a major source of potassium salts and is part of the Upper Permian Series, formed between 260 and 250 million years ago.2
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