Salt Gradient Theory

Salt Gradient Theory explains how layered salt concentrations in groundwater influence the movement of water and minerals underground. When salty, mineral-rich water interacts with fresher water at different depths, a gradient forms, causing salts and minerals to migrate vertically and horizontally. This process helps form mineral deposits like deposits of salt or other evaporite minerals. Essentially, the theory describes how differences in salt content within underground water systems drive the natural sorting and movement of minerals, shaping the distribution of mineral resources in the Earth's crust over time.