The literature on evaporite mineral deposits suggests a functional relation between the origin of these deposits and groundwater flow systems. Comparison of reported spacial variations of groundwater quality with pertinent solutions to flow equations under specified boundary conditions reveals that quality of groundwater is a function of flow-path length, flow-path route, and flow velocity. Selected references provide evidence that sites of accumulation of nonmarine evaporite minerals are discharge zones for poor-quality water from regional or intermediate groundwater flow systems.

Reported isotope ratios in oil field brines and standard mean ocean water indicate that water in some deep brines is of meteoric origin; therefore, such brines must be part of a groundwater flow system. Similarly, fluid-potential values in the saline parts of certain groundwater flow systems along the Atlantic Coast of the United States reveal that saline groundwater in such systems discharges toward the ocean floor. Therefore, groundwater flow systems act as transport agents for dissolved solids which, under appropriate geomorphic and climatic conditions, are contributed to marine evaporite deposits.