Group of hanksite crystals, from the type locality for the species. It is one of the few minerals that contain both carbonate and sulfate ionic groups. Hanksite forms large crystals in evaporite deposits. These deposits are found in arid environments where water, which carries dissolved salts, evaporates and concentrates the ions. Halite is one of the first minerals to crystallize. As the water becomes even more concentrated, rare and unusual minerals such as borax and hanksite eventually crystallize as well.

Pirssonite crystal, a rare, sharp, buoyant sodium calcium carbonate. As usually happens, it presents whitish efflorescences on the surface. A very unusual carbonate from the type locality at Searles Lake, a large, nearly 20 km dry lake in the Mojave Desert. On its western coast is the mining community of Trona. Borax has been mined since 1873. Today sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate and sodium chloride (halite) are also produced.