white alkali

American  

noun

1. Agriculture. a whitish layer of mineral salts, especially sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, and magnesium sulfate, often occurring on top of soils where rainfall is low.

2. refined soda ash.

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white alkali British  

noun

1. refined sodium carbonate

2. any of several mineral salts, esp sodium sulphate, sodium chloride, and magnesium sulphate, that often appear on the surface of soils as a whitish layer in dry conditions

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Example Sentences

On every side stretched the dazzling white alkali, with here and there a little dust devil dancing as if in mockery at their plight.

From The Girl Aviators on Golden Wings by Burnham, Margaret

They soon swept by Tad, and on out over white alkali desert once more.

From The Pony Rider Boys in the Alkali or, Finding a Key to the Desert Maze by Patchin, Frank Gee

The sun had lifted over the rim of the desert, a red disc which turned the gleaming white alkali patches to rose.

From Dangerous Days by Rinehart, Mary Roberts

There was no possibility of their missing the trail—as distinct in the white alkali as in snow.

From McTeague by Norris, Frank

Beneath our horses' hoofs the white alkali crust which thinly covers the desert floor, crumbles and breaks.

From Mexico Its Ancient and Modern Civilisation, History, Political Conditions, Topography, Natural Resources, Industries and General Development by Hume, Martin