1409:
47:
31:
54:
379:
Mean temperatures are about −2 °C (28 °F) but fluctuations of 1–25 °C (34–77 °F) were documented in summer months. Mean precipitation is about 140 millimetres (5.5 in) per year and evaporation reaches 1,000 millimetres (39 in) per year. The region is one of the driest on
366:
capacity. Sulfur and iron oxidation gives rise to acids that in turn leach mineral components of rocks. Most of the water likewise is of hydrothermal and magmatic origin while direct precipitation plays a minor role. It is possible that Salar
Ignorado and Gorbea were normal salars before hydrothermal
220:
around Salar
Ignorado. Only one inflow was identified during reconnaissance reported in 2002 and leads to a small lagoon at the northern end of Salar Ignorado. A dry channel runs from Salar Ignorado to Salar Gorbea, through which Salar Ignorado may have spilled into Salar Gorbea in the past.
194:
Salar
Ignorado is triangular with a surface area of 0.7 square kilometres (0.27 sq mi) at 4,250 metres (13,940 ft) elevation, and salt-free benches delimit its shores. The surface of the salt flat is not actually flat and features a hummocky topography with heights of 2 metres
371:, during a humid period. Volcanic uplift occurs in the region at a rate of 2.5 centimetres per year (0.98 in/year); fluctuations in the regional magmatic system may have triggered intrusions of groundwater into the salar but these events have not been dated.
199:
and salar flats. Pools are less than 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) deep but reach widths of 2–50 metres (6 ft 7 in – 164 ft 1 in). They form either when strong winds blow out part of the salar surface and the shallow
228:
The catchment of Salar
Ignorado has a surface area of about 37.5 square kilometres (14.5 sq mi) and is devoid of vegetation, with a maximum elevation of about 5,100 metres (16,700 ft). It consists of heavily eroded and
367:
alteration of the surrounding volcanoes set in. The inflow of Salar
Ignorado is the most sulfate-rich of all studied Andean salars. A peak of solute input to Salar Ignorado took place between 120,000 and 11,000 years ago during the
158:
crystals develop in the pools of water and are redeposited by wind to form the dunes. Liquids and microorganisms are occasionally trapped within the crystals. The environment of Salar
Ignorado has drawn comparisons to
1079:
Escudero, Lorena; Oetiker, Nia; Gallardo, Karem; Tebes-Cayo, Cinthya; Guajardo, Mariela; Nuñez, Claudia; Davis-Belmar, Carol; Pueyo, J. J.; Chong Díaz, Guillermo; Demergasso, Cecilia (1 August 2018).
1321:
212:-like shapes and mounds. Part of the groundwater reaches the surface and evaporates, leaving small gypsum crystals behind that are reworked by winds and form the dunes. They also form
1285:
Evaluación biogeoquímica de aguas en cuencas cerradas altoandinas de la región de
Atacama. Bases científicas del recurso hídrico para la innovación y la competitividad. Informe final
1041:
1128:
Pueyo, JuanJosé; Demergasso, Cecilia; Escudero, Lorena; Chong, Guillermo; Cortéz-Rivera, Paulina; Sanjurjo-Sánchez, Jorge; Carmona, Virginia; Giralt, Santiago (2021-07-20).
248:. The landscape is dominated by hills and mountains, and volcanic sediments with grain sizes ranging from boulders to sand cover the terrain surrounding Salar Ignorado.
1314:
1284:
988:
1307:
1490:
354:
The acidity is unusual for salars in Chile and there is no obvious reason for it in the geology of the area. It appears to originate from
1408:
540:
538:
79:
989:"The Physical and Chemical Sedimentology of Two High-Altitude Acid Salars in Chile: Sedimentary Processes In An Extreme Environment"
1043:
Fluid inclusion petrography, microthermometry, and geobiology in modern gypsum from acid saline Salar
Ignorado, northern Chile
46:
131:
and numerous pools of open water. The waters of Salar
Ignorado, unlike these of other salt flats in the central Andes, are
428:
species variety of Salar
Ignorado and the bacterial biomass are small. Ecosystems at Salar Ignorado may resemble these of
942:
544:
1485:
1423:
1428:
1288:
1190:
140:
1398:
1383:
1433:
1056:"A fluid inclusion record of magmatic/hydrothermal pulses in acid Salar Ignorado gypsum, northern Chile"
335:
bubbles. Large gypsum crystals are cemented by smaller crystals. Groundwater precipitates minerals like
1378:
943:
Universidad de Antofagasta, Institut de recherche pour le développement & Haimaitier Institute 2013
545:
Universidad de Antofagasta, Institut de recherche pour le développement & Haimaitier Institute 2013
463:
Salar Ignorado can be considered a sub-basin of Salar Gorbea, but the watersheds are clearly separated.
320:
also occur. The gypsum crystals contain fluid inclusions that often have a complex history and contain
183:. It is located east of Plato de Sopa volcano and just south of the 5,400 metres (17,700 ft) high
146:
The salt flat is located in a harsh climate with strong winds, large temperature fluctuations, intense
1393:
1283:
Universidad de Antofagasta; Institut de recherche pour le développement; Haimaitier Institute (2013).
1243:
1202:
204:
floods the resulting depressions, or from the ongoing dissolution of salts in the salt-undersaturated
1388:
1255:
1214:
1141:
1000:
420:
live inside the gypsum crystals, with cells both within the solid crystals and the fluid inclusions.
271:
1459:
256:
Water temperatures in the salar pools range from 9–15 °C (48–59 °F). The waters contain
1454:
1177:
1116:
1024:
241:
184:
172:
124:
116:
1080:
1271:
1230:
1169:
1108:
1100:
1016:
1373:
1348:
1263:
1222:
1159:
1149:
1092:
1067:
1055:
1008:
322:
1449:
363:
282:
188:
179:, and, not far from the border with Argentina, within the northernmost tip of the Chilean
1259:
1218:
1145:
1004:
1358:
1334:
290:
216:-like surface deposits around the margins of the pools. There is no evidence of former
195:(6 ft 7 in). About one third is made up by pools of open water, the rest are
180:
120:
1267:
1226:
1479:
1353:
1181:
1028:
421:
359:
136:
1120:
1368:
1363:
1130:"On the origin of saline compounds in acidic salt flats (Central Andean Altiplano)"
1032:
355:
230:
222:
1154:
1129:
1203:"Hydrochemistry of two adjacent acid saline lakes in the Andes of northern Chile"
244:. The volcanoes feature large deposits of hydrothermally altered rock and native
1330:
1299:
1049:. Pan-American Current Research on Fluid Inclusions (PACROFI-XII). Vol. 23.
429:
368:
201:
160:
127:, it comprises 0.7 square kilometres (0.27 sq mi) of salt flats, sand
1096:
436:
417:
412:
407:
385:
381:
317:
286:
209:
147:
1275:
1234:
1173:
1104:
1081:"A thiotrophic microbial community in an acidic brine lake in Northern Chile"
1020:
648:
646:
94:
81:
348:
301:
238:
217:
196:
1112:
444:
1244:"The origin of brines and salts in Chilean salars: a hydrochemical review"
285:
the only other one there. The waters of Salar Ignorado are unsuitable for
30:
1189:
Risacher, François; Alonso, Hugo; Salazar Méndez, Carlos (January 1999).
443:
was observed in the area during a reconnaissance reported in 2013, and a
425:
344:
340:
313:
305:
264:
as their main salt components, with salt concentrations ranging between
1164:
1012:
716:
714:
712:
397:
389:
336:
261:
234:
1071:
663:
661:
191:
is just northwest of Salar Ignorado. The area is difficult to access.
555:
553:
440:
403:
393:
309:
297:
278:
257:
245:
155:
1191:
Geoquímica de aguas en cuencas cerradas: I, II, III regiones - Chile
798:
796:
794:
769:
767:
765:
633:
631:
629:
604:
602:
600:
598:
596:
594:
592:
842:
840:
838:
813:
811:
501:
499:
486:
484:
482:
480:
205:
176:
123:
at 4,250 metres (13,940 ft) elevation. Located just south of
703:
1242:
Risacher, François; Alonso, Hugo; Salazar, Carlos (2003-11-01).
1201:
Risacher, François; Alonso, Hugo; Salazar, Carlos (2002-07-01).
213:
151:
132:
128:
1303:
918:
870:
858:
785:
732:
679:
652:
529:
965:
963:
281:
waters in northern Chile and Bolivia, with its neighbour
296:
The most common mineral deposited at Salar Ignorado is
906:
894:
720:
667:
620:
559:
208:
below. Crystals of gypsum grow in the pools, forming
221:
Otherwise, both Salar Ignorado and Salar Gorbea are
1442:
1416:
1341:
71:
23:
1196:(Report) (in Spanish). Dirección General de Aguas.
1054:Karmanocky, F. J.; Benison, K. C. (August 2016).
882:
846:
817:
802:
773:
637:
608:
505:
490:
380:Earth and has a harsh climate with strong winds,
277:. Salar Ignorado is one of the rare salars with
72:
1315:
143:water and the weathering of volcanic rocks.
8:
388:. This climate may have persisted since the
272:
1322:
1308:
1300:
859:Risacher, Alonso & Salazar Méndez 1999
786:Risacher, Alonso & Salazar Méndez 1999
680:Risacher, Alonso & Salazar Méndez 1999
20:
1163:
1153:
424:grow on the bottom of shallow pools. The
1040:Karmanocky, F.J.; Benison, K.C. (2014).
969:
954:
930:
829:
756:
744:
691:
583:
571:
517:
476:
456:
18:Salt pan in the Andes of northern Chile
53:
358:and magmatic processes that generate
7:
119:(salt flat) in the Andes of Chile's
987:Benison, Kathleen C. (2019-02-21).
907:Risacher, Alonso & Salazar 2002
895:Risacher, Alonso & Salazar 2002
721:Risacher, Alonso & Salazar 2003
668:Risacher, Alonso & Salazar 2002
621:Risacher, Alonso & Salazar 2002
560:Risacher, Alonso & Salazar 2002
14:
1407:
52:
45:
29:
993:Journal of Sedimentary Research
447:skeleton was reported in 2008.
396:and prevents the formation of
1:
1268:10.1016/S0012-8252(03)00037-0
1227:10.1016/S0009-2541(02)00021-9
1155:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120155
883:Karmanocky & Benison 2016
847:Karmanocky & Benison 2014
818:Karmanocky & Benison 2014
803:Karmanocky & Benison 2016
774:Karmanocky & Benison 2016
638:Karmanocky & Benison 2016
609:Karmanocky & Benison 2016
506:Karmanocky & Benison 2016
491:Karmanocky & Benison 2016
439:at Salar Ignorado. Only one
1491:Landforms of Atacama Region
237:volcanoes that formed on a
167:Geography and geomorphology
1507:
1429:Laguna del Negro Francisco
400:and visible surface flow.
35:At the top, the third one.
1405:
1097:10.1007/s10482-018-1087-8
40:
28:
1287:(Report). Archived from
435:There is no evidence of
1399:Turbio River (Jorquera)
1384:Salado River (Chañaral)
1085:Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
362:and consume the rocks'
252:Hydrology and minerals
135:owing to the input of
1294:on February 13, 2024.
1248:Earth-Science Reviews
95:25.49778°S 68.62139°W
704:Escudero et al. 2018
100:-25.49778; -68.62139
1486:Salt flats of Chile
1460:Salar de Pedernales
1434:Embalse Santa Juana
1260:2003ESRv...63..249R
1219:2002ChGeo.187...39R
1146:2021ChGeo.574l0155P
1005:2019JSedR..89..147B
375:Climate and ecology
91: /
1455:Salar de Pajonales
1379:Del Tránsito River
1013:10.2110/jsr.2019.9
185:Cerro Bayo Complex
175:is in the Chilean
125:Cerro Bayo volcano
1473:
1472:
1072:10.1111/gfl.12171
919:Pueyo et al. 2021
871:Pueyo et al. 2021
733:Pueyo et al. 2021
653:Pueyo et al. 2021
530:Pueyo et al. 2021
110:
109:
1498:
1411:
1394:Vega Ancha River
1374:Del Carmen River
1324:
1317:
1310:
1301:
1295:
1293:
1279:
1238:
1207:Chemical Geology
1197:
1195:
1185:
1167:
1157:
1134:Chemical Geology
1124:
1091:(8): 1403–1419.
1075:
1050:
1048:
1036:
973:
967:
958:
952:
946:
940:
934:
928:
922:
916:
910:
904:
898:
892:
886:
880:
874:
868:
862:
856:
850:
844:
833:
827:
821:
815:
806:
800:
789:
783:
777:
771:
760:
754:
748:
742:
736:
730:
724:
718:
707:
701:
695:
689:
683:
677:
671:
665:
656:
650:
641:
635:
624:
618:
612:
606:
587:
581:
575:
569:
563:
557:
548:
542:
533:
527:
521:
515:
509:
503:
494:
488:
464:
461:
334:
331:
330:
276:
274:
269:
106:
105:
103:
102:
101:
96:
92:
89:
88:
87:
84:
74:
56:
55:
49:
33:
21:
1506:
1505:
1501:
1500:
1499:
1497:
1496:
1495:
1476:
1475:
1474:
1469:
1450:Salar de Gorbea
1438:
1412:
1403:
1389:Juncalito River
1337:
1328:
1298:
1291:
1282:
1241:
1200:
1193:
1188:
1127:
1078:
1053:
1046:
1039:
986:
982:
977:
976:
968:
961:
953:
949:
941:
937:
929:
925:
917:
913:
905:
901:
893:
889:
881:
877:
869:
865:
857:
853:
845:
836:
828:
824:
816:
809:
801:
792:
784:
780:
772:
763:
755:
751:
743:
739:
731:
727:
719:
710:
706:, p. 1403.
702:
698:
690:
686:
678:
674:
666:
659:
651:
644:
636:
627:
619:
615:
607:
590:
582:
578:
570:
566:
558:
551:
543:
536:
528:
524:
516:
512:
504:
497:
489:
478:
473:
468:
467:
462:
458:
453:
377:
329:
326:
325:
324:
321:
283:Salar de Gorbea
267:
265:
254:
169:
99:
97:
93:
90:
85:
82:
80:
78:
77:
67:
66:
65:
64:
63:
62:
61:
57:
36:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1504:
1502:
1494:
1493:
1488:
1478:
1477:
1471:
1470:
1468:
1467:
1465:Salar Ignorado
1462:
1457:
1452:
1446:
1444:
1440:
1439:
1437:
1436:
1431:
1426:
1420:
1418:
1414:
1413:
1406:
1404:
1402:
1401:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1381:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1359:Jorquera River
1356:
1351:
1345:
1343:
1339:
1338:
1335:Atacama Region
1329:
1327:
1326:
1319:
1312:
1304:
1297:
1296:
1280:
1254:(3): 249–293.
1239:
1198:
1186:
1125:
1076:
1066:(3): 490–506.
1051:
1037:
999:(2): 147–167.
983:
981:
978:
975:
974:
972:, p. 162.
959:
957:, p. 165.
947:
935:
933:, p. 159.
923:
911:
899:
887:
885:, p. 503.
875:
863:
851:
834:
832:, p. 158.
822:
807:
805:, p. 502.
790:
778:
776:, p. 490.
761:
759:, p. 151.
749:
747:, p. 149.
737:
725:
723:, p. 253.
708:
696:
694:, p. 164.
684:
672:
657:
642:
640:, p. 494.
625:
613:
611:, p. 493.
588:
586:, p. 154.
576:
574:, p. 152.
564:
549:
534:
522:
520:, p. 148.
510:
508:, p. 491.
495:
493:, p. 492.
475:
474:
472:
469:
466:
465:
455:
454:
452:
449:
422:Microbial mats
376:
373:
327:
291:drinking water
253:
250:
231:hydrothermally
181:Atacama Region
168:
165:
121:Atacama Region
113:Salar Ignorado
108:
107:
75:
69:
68:
60:Salar Ignorado
59:
58:
51:
50:
44:
43:
42:
41:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
24:Salar Ignorado
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1503:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1483:
1481:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1447:
1445:
1441:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1421:
1419:
1415:
1410:
1400:
1397:
1395:
1392:
1390:
1387:
1385:
1382:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1354:Manflas River
1352:
1350:
1349:Copiapó River
1347:
1346:
1344:
1340:
1336:
1332:
1325:
1320:
1318:
1313:
1311:
1306:
1305:
1302:
1290:
1286:
1281:
1277:
1273:
1269:
1265:
1261:
1257:
1253:
1249:
1245:
1240:
1236:
1232:
1228:
1224:
1220:
1216:
1212:
1208:
1204:
1199:
1192:
1187:
1183:
1179:
1175:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1147:
1143:
1139:
1135:
1131:
1126:
1122:
1118:
1114:
1110:
1106:
1102:
1098:
1094:
1090:
1086:
1082:
1077:
1073:
1069:
1065:
1061:
1057:
1052:
1045:
1044:
1038:
1034:
1030:
1026:
1022:
1018:
1014:
1010:
1006:
1002:
998:
994:
990:
985:
984:
979:
971:
966:
964:
960:
956:
951:
948:
945:, p. 63.
944:
939:
936:
932:
927:
924:
921:, p. 13.
920:
915:
912:
909:, p. 55.
908:
903:
900:
897:, p. 52.
896:
891:
888:
884:
879:
876:
872:
867:
864:
860:
855:
852:
849:, p. 23.
848:
843:
841:
839:
835:
831:
826:
823:
820:, p. 24.
819:
814:
812:
808:
804:
799:
797:
795:
791:
788:, p. 19.
787:
782:
779:
775:
770:
768:
766:
762:
758:
753:
750:
746:
741:
738:
734:
729:
726:
722:
717:
715:
713:
709:
705:
700:
697:
693:
688:
685:
682:, p. 16.
681:
676:
673:
670:, p. 43.
669:
664:
662:
658:
655:, p. 14.
654:
649:
647:
643:
639:
634:
632:
630:
626:
623:, p. 46.
622:
617:
614:
610:
605:
603:
601:
599:
597:
595:
593:
589:
585:
580:
577:
573:
568:
565:
562:, p. 42.
561:
556:
554:
550:
547:, p. 93.
546:
541:
539:
535:
531:
526:
523:
519:
514:
511:
507:
502:
500:
496:
492:
487:
485:
483:
481:
477:
470:
460:
457:
450:
448:
446:
442:
438:
433:
431:
427:
423:
419:
415:
414:
409:
405:
401:
399:
395:
391:
387:
383:
374:
372:
370:
365:
361:
360:sulfuric acid
357:
352:
350:
346:
342:
338:
333:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
294:
292:
288:
284:
280:
275:
263:
259:
251:
249:
247:
243:
240:
236:
232:
226:
224:
223:closed basins
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
198:
192:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
166:
164:
162:
157:
153:
149:
144:
142:
138:
137:sulfuric acid
134:
130:
126:
122:
118:
114:
104:
76:
70:
48:
39:
32:
27:
22:
16:
1464:
1424:Laguna Verde
1369:Huasco River
1364:Pulido River
1289:the original
1251:
1247:
1213:(1): 39–57.
1210:
1206:
1137:
1133:
1088:
1084:
1063:
1059:
1042:
1033:ResearchGate
1031:– via
996:
992:
970:Benison 2019
955:Benison 2019
950:
938:
931:Benison 2019
926:
914:
902:
890:
878:
873:, p. 2.
866:
861:, p. 6.
854:
830:Benison 2019
825:
781:
757:Benison 2019
752:
745:Benison 2019
740:
735:, p. 3.
728:
699:
692:Benison 2019
687:
675:
616:
584:Benison 2019
579:
572:Benison 2019
567:
532:, p. 5.
525:
518:Benison 2019
513:
459:
434:
411:
402:
378:
356:hydrothermal
353:
295:
255:
227:
193:
189:Salar Gorbea
170:
145:
141:hydrothermal
112:
111:
15:
1331:Hydrography
1165:2445/184092
437:crustaceans
430:early Earth
418:prokaryotes
408:green algae
382:dust devils
369:Pleistocene
202:groundwater
161:early Earth
98: /
73:Coordinates
1480:Categories
1443:Salt flats
1140:: 120155.
471:References
413:Dunaliella
386:insolation
318:thenardite
287:irrigation
218:shorelines
210:sea urchin
197:sand dunes
148:insolation
86:68°37′17″W
83:25°29′52″S
1276:0012-8252
1235:0009-2541
1182:233653266
1174:0009-2541
1105:1572-9699
1060:Geofluids
1029:135031173
1021:1527-1404
426:bacterial
384:and high
364:buffering
349:kaolinite
302:bassanite
239:Paleozoic
187:volcano.
1121:13684197
1113:29748902
410:such as
398:glaciers
392:or even
345:jarosite
341:hematite
314:jarosite
306:epsomite
242:basement
233:altered
173:salt pan
1256:Bibcode
1215:Bibcode
1142:Bibcode
1001:Bibcode
980:Sources
404:Diatoms
390:Miocene
337:alunite
266:4043–97
262:sulfate
235:Miocene
152:aridity
1342:Rivers
1274:
1233:
1180:
1172:
1119:
1111:
1103:
1027:
1019:
445:vicuña
441:mammal
394:Eocene
310:halite
300:, but
298:gypsum
279:acidic
270:
258:sodium
246:sulfur
206:brines
156:Gypsum
133:acidic
1417:Lakes
1292:(PDF)
1194:(PDF)
1178:S2CID
1117:S2CID
1047:(PDF)
1025:S2CID
451:Notes
293:use.
177:Andes
139:from
129:dunes
117:salar
115:is a
1272:ISSN
1231:ISSN
1170:ISSN
1109:PMID
1101:ISSN
1017:ISSN
416:and
347:and
316:and
273:mg/L
260:and
214:snow
171:The
150:and
1333:of
1264:doi
1223:doi
1211:187
1160:hdl
1150:doi
1138:574
1093:doi
1089:111
1068:doi
1009:doi
289:or
268:091
1482::
1270:.
1262:.
1252:63
1250:.
1246:.
1229:.
1221:.
1209:.
1205:.
1176:.
1168:.
1158:.
1148:.
1136:.
1132:.
1115:.
1107:.
1099:.
1087:.
1083:.
1064:16
1062:.
1058:.
1023:.
1015:.
1007:.
997:89
995:.
991:.
962:^
837:^
810:^
793:^
764:^
711:^
660:^
645:^
628:^
591:^
552:^
537:^
498:^
479:^
432:.
406:,
351:.
343:,
339:,
312:,
308:,
304:,
225:.
163:.
154:.
1323:e
1316:t
1309:v
1278:.
1266::
1258::
1237:.
1225::
1217::
1184:.
1162::
1152::
1144::
1123:.
1095::
1074:.
1070::
1035:.
1011::
1003::
332:S
328:2
323:H
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