Explains the evaporation sequence that orders playa minerals, how to read a salt crust, and field identification for halite, gypsum varieties including desert roses, and the common borates. Collecting on playas is timing-dependent — the guide covers seasons and surface ethics.
Before you go
Playas are flat, white, shadeless, and farther from the truck than they look. Read the heat standard, file your route, and collect crusts from disturbed margins rather than pristine surfaces — a playa heals slowly and everyone photographs it.