The San Andreas is surface expression of the East Pacific Rise spreading oceanic center (the reason for crustal thinning in the Salton Sink). The spreading center was all offshore of California until the NA plate overran it. The Sea of Cortez used to run all the way to Palm Springs a few million years ago but it has all been filled back in with sediment from the Colorado. Strange that there are walrus fossils in the perimeter geology of the Salton area/Anza Borrego(!) So all the great farming soil in the Imperial/Mexicali is what eroded out of the Colorado Plateau as it lifted and formed the Grand Canyon.
It's really interesting what's happening down there now with lithium. I'm working on a story or two about it, but there is a lot of promise there. And a lot of lithium. But one of the big problems is that the lithium is all mixed up with other stuff deep underground and it's been difficult to separate all the valuable minerals out from the goop. But, yes the place remains weird. I doubt very much, however, that it will get nicer, per se, in terms of tourism or habitation. It's still a pretty desolate brutal place. I'm going to head down there for the lithium story and should come back with some good imagery.
The area around the Salton Sea is so weird. The dead fish beaches, the strange still waters, the general eerieness in the atmosphere and lack of people. The entire SoCal desert region is full of weirdness and will probably stay that way due to the harsh environment.
The San Andreas is surface expression of the East Pacific Rise spreading oceanic center (the reason for crustal thinning in the Salton Sink). The spreading center was all offshore of California until the NA plate overran it. The Sea of Cortez used to run all the way to Palm Springs a few million years ago but it has all been filled back in with sediment from the Colorado. Strange that there are walrus fossils in the perimeter geology of the Salton area/Anza Borrego(!) So all the great farming soil in the Imperial/Mexicali is what eroded out of the Colorado Plateau as it lifted and formed the Grand Canyon.
Really great info, Steve. Thank you. I was aware of the East Pacific Rise...but walrus fossils is new. And Grand Canyon silt for farming makes sense.
I love this crazy geology!
It's really interesting what's happening down there now with lithium. I'm working on a story or two about it, but there is a lot of promise there. And a lot of lithium. But one of the big problems is that the lithium is all mixed up with other stuff deep underground and it's been difficult to separate all the valuable minerals out from the goop. But, yes the place remains weird. I doubt very much, however, that it will get nicer, per se, in terms of tourism or habitation. It's still a pretty desolate brutal place. I'm going to head down there for the lithium story and should come back with some good imagery.
The area around the Salton Sea is so weird. The dead fish beaches, the strange still waters, the general eerieness in the atmosphere and lack of people. The entire SoCal desert region is full of weirdness and will probably stay that way due to the harsh environment.
Indeed, beautiful austerity and weirdly serendipitous (Slab City. East of Jerusalem, Salvation Mountain, Bombay Beach...wow!)