Digital reconstruction of geological environments: Playa-Lake
“Playa-lake” is a term that combines two geological environments: playa (beach or coast in Spanish) and lake. Although the geological history of a playa lake is neither linear nor literal as the term might suggest, this landscape tells the story of two constantly evolving environments that form the ruins of an ancient saline lake.
The geological history of a playa lake begins with the formation of a lake. This lake results from the accumulation of surface waters that become trapped in semiarid continental regions (endorheic basins). Eventually, this lake becomes saline, as its waters are enriched by salts, sulfates, and carbonates from the substrate. Due to the intermittency of rainfall periods, these lakes are ephemeral. They flood and desiccate intermittently, taking on the appearance of a shallow rather than a deep lake.
What happens when the lake evaporates?
The geological history evolves from a lake to a playa. The playa landscape is arid and saline. As the water level drops, shorelines form, marked by zoned evaporite deposits from the margins toward the interior. This leaves a mixture of mud, clays, gypsum, salt crusts, and polygonal desiccation cracks (mudcracks).
The oldest ruins of the saline lake (pre-dating the Holocene) leave a deposit of thinly laminated and lithified rocks with alternating light and dark colors. These laminations evidence the dissolution of salts and carbonates during the periods of flooding and desiccation.
The geological history of a playa lake begins with the formation of a lake. This lake results from the accumulation of surface waters that become trapped in semiarid continental regions (endorheic basins). Eventually, this lake becomes saline, as its waters are enriched by salts, sulfates, and carbonates from the substrate. Due to the intermittency of rainfall periods, these lakes are ephemeral. They flood and desiccate intermittently, taking on the appearance of a shallow rather than a deep lake.
What happens when the lake evaporates?
The geological history evolves from a lake to a playa. The playa landscape is arid and saline. As the water level drops, shorelines form, marked by zoned evaporite deposits from the margins toward the interior. This leaves a mixture of mud, clays, gypsum, salt crusts, and polygonal desiccation cracks (mudcracks).
The oldest ruins of the saline lake (pre-dating the Holocene) leave a deposit of thinly laminated and lithified rocks with alternating light and dark colors. These laminations evidence the dissolution of salts and carbonates during the periods of flooding and desiccation.
-by PhD(c) Belén Muñoz
Unlike automated or traditional static illustrations, this method offers a dynamic collaborative workflow. It empowers author and scientists to implement many modifications, ensuring that the final reconstruction is not just visually compelling, but a strictly validated representation of scientific data.
Unlike automated or traditional static illustrations, this method offers a dynamic collaborative workflow. It empowers author and scientists to implement many modifications, ensuring that the final reconstruction is not just visually compelling, but a strictly validated representation of scientific data.
no generative Ai was used in any step
Digital mineral: RUBY - 3D render from organic modelling and texture painting
Minerals - Procedural and painted shaders
OPAL - Procedural shaders
Photoshop
Photoshop
Vectorial
Vectorial
Vectorial
Painted in Procreate
