Thenardite
specimen number:
2354289
location:
Soda Lake, San Luis Obispo Co., California, USA
description: Soda Lake in San Luis Obispo County is a closed, endorheic playa situated within the arid Carrizo Plain, bounded by the active San Andreas Fault along the base of the Temblor Range. Formed as a shallow, ephemeral body of water in an inland drainage basin, the lake experiences intense seasonal evaporation that concentrates dissolved minerals into thick evaporite layers and muddy sediments rich in sulfate and carbonate salts. Commercial exploitation began in the late 19th century when local ranchers gathered surface crusts for cattle salt licks and meat preservation. Operations expanded significantly by 1908 with the establishment of industrial processing facilities by the Carrisa Chemical Company, which extracted massive quantities of sodium sulfate from the lakebed muds to supply glass and detergent manufacturing until commercial activities ceased in the mid-20th century.
A loose cluster of sharp gray slightly translucent semi lustrous crystals of thenardite. In great condition all around with no points of attachment.
Questions about this specimen?
Send an email
or call us: 314-341-1811.