Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which minerals are extracted from Mojave Desert salt flats?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

map of western North America — North American Desert Physical features of western North America.

In the Mojave Desert, sand and gravel basins drain into central salt flats. From these salt flats, the following minerals are extracted:

Borax1
Potash1
Salt1

While these specific minerals are noted for extraction from the region's salt flats, the Death Valley area—which lies near the border of the Mojave and the Great Basin—is also historically famous for its borate minerals, including borax and meyerhofferite.2