sabkha

Flat shoreline zone in arid regions above the high-water mark in which the sediments include large amounts of evaporites. These occur in the form of nodules, crusts, and crystalline deposits of halite, anhydrite, and gypsum, as well as mineral grains of various sorts. Some of the evaporites form from rapid evaporation of marine waters soaking through from the bordering tidal flats, but some can be derived also from sediment-laden continental waters coming down from adjoining highlands.

Sabkhas are common features along the Gulf. Former sabkha environments can be deduced from the sedimentary record of much of the oil-rich Permian Basin of Texas, as an ancient sea moved back and forth across the continent.