Pre-salt Energy genesis, Brine Streams Replenishing Oil, Gas Salt Diapirs in “Salt Mirror Petroleum Formations" – 40 Years in Retrospect, and Ancient Qanat Kare Mineral Salt Leaching Technology

Abstract

The Geology of “Salt Mirrors” as he Responsible Hydraulic Mechanisms Enabling the Disappearance of Heavy Saline Waste Fluids, and other Waste Toxic Sediments into Deep Land and Ocean Aquifers.. A hydraulic mechanism which dissolves salt to form so-called “salt mirrors” results in exceptionally flat geological expanses of wetland, for example, suitable for solar evaporation pans. Whether initially in the form of evaporites, eutectic deposits, domes or other rock salt diapirs, the mechanism is proposed to be responsible for transporting most waste organic and inorganic debris into very deep aquifers in the water table: Specifically the interface of fresh water and heavy saturated brines in the water table initiates powerful horizontal and vertical liquid streams which are capable of collecting most sedimented waste material and concentrating it into heavy gradient saline pools. Based on observations made in 1953 and presented to the 4th Salt Symposium Ohio USA by M.R.Bloch, it is also proposed that this mechanism is responsible for the slurry concentrating function of huge quantities of decomposed biodiversity waste and transporting it to such subterranean reservoirs where it subsequently is transformed into crude petroleum. Historical this mechanism became nature's process of recycling waste to very great depths in the Earth's aquifers. It could also become the obvious destination for toxic RO reject brine. During mankind's short industrial timeline, raw chemical and even nuclear waste has been added to the equation and it is estimated that as this very deep interface of water and saturated brine rises together with the water table, and that it may percolate up through these same aquifers. This will be particularly true in the event that the water table rises due to predicted increased eustatic sea levels. Salt-driven wetlands and other historical saline concentrations and salt deposits are an integral part of the process in this mechanism and therefore careful control of these saline streams at their point of evolution must become a priority to sustaining such wetland sub oceanic ecosystems.