Salt in the Earth Sciences

A comprehensive review of giant salt basins, salt tectonic events, and their global implications

Salt is formed when water rich in evaporite minerals accumulates on the Earth’s surface and then evaporates. Over time, pressure and tectonics change the structure and shape of salt layers. Recent technological advances have improved the interpretation and modeling of subsurface salt structures.

Salt in the Earth Sciences: Basin Analysis and Salt Tectonics presents a global overview of giant salt basins formed under diverse tectonic settings, connecting salt deposition with tectonic events, climate change, and more.

Volume highlights include:

- Stratigraphic and structural features of giant salt basins
- Theories for the origin of salt giants and their deep crustal architecture
- Accumulations of hydrocarbon resources in salt basins
- Global examples of giant salt basins
- Salt and shale tectonic models, including salt and mud diapirism, magmatism, and salt dissolution
- Correlations with plate tectonics, climate changes, global glaciations, and major volcanic events
- Extreme environments associated with evaporite deposition on Earth and other planets of the solar system

Browse the other volume in this set, Salt in the Earth Sciences: Evaporite Rocks and Salt Deposition. 


The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.