[Rockhounds] Strange 'Martian' Mineral Mounds Rise Up from Utah's Great Salt Lake

[Andrew Turner]

Great timing on the article!

We actually discussed this at our Mineral Collectors of Utah meeting last night.  A few of our members have been out there to collect.  The mounds are apparently a pretty interesting site.  However, the collecting isn't so good.  We were told that the mineral basically turns to dust as soon as it is collected and exposed to the elements.  It is a very rare mineral, but pretty much just looks like a white powder once it is collected -- not much different than collecting other evaporites.  Really fascinating though.

Andrew Turner
Salt Lake City, UT

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From: Rockhounds <rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com> on behalf of Kreigh Tomaszewski <kreigh at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2020 6:07 AM
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors <rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com>
Subject: [Rockhounds] Strange 'Martian' Mineral Mounds Rise Up from Utah's Great Salt Lake

Rare mounds of a crystalline mineral have emerged above the surface of
Utah's Great Salt Lake, where they're expected to remain just a few months
before disappearing again.

Scientists think these mounds may be similar to mineral structures on Mars
that could preserve traces of  microbes that may have lived in the planet’s
 saltwater lakes billions of years ago.

https://www.livescience.com/martian-mineral-mounds-rise-utah-salt-lake.html
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