Sep 29, 2017 Club meeting: Unusual Mono Lake Water

Hello everyone! This is your IMC president Kyu Been! For our first club meeting this school year, we were able to view dried Mono lake water!
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When I went up to mammoth lake, I stopped by Mono lake to view one of the largest lakes up there. 
One thing I realized about the lake was how basic it was as compared to regular tap or freshwater (having a pH of 9.8).

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During our club meeting, we viewed the dried mono lake water under the microscope, which had a similar image to dried baking soda and lubricant tears likely because mono lake is said to be "saltier than the sea" since it is like having baking soda and table salt mixed together in the water. The reason for the saltiness is because the water in the lake cannot leave the area unless through evaporation. When water evaporates, the minerals are continuously left behind, causing an excess of mineral particles and salts. 
The towers you see in the picture are actually tufa towers. At the bottom of the lake, calcium rich water rises to the top alkaline lake and once water levels decrease, the towers slowly form when the calcium becomes Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3). It is actually illegal to touch or climb the towers because of its fragility: the towers are made with the same chemical compounds of chalk.






 Thanks Ben and Andy Kim for sending the pictures you guys took during our meeting!

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