Uyuni Pick Axe

Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

* Nikon D200

* 9 image composite

* Ratio 3:1

* Time 12:31 PM

* Edition Size: 5

* Signed, number and dated by Brodie Quinn

20 inch (508mm x 169mm) $350 NZD

30 inch (762mm x254mm) $450 NZD

40 inch (1016mm x 339mm) $550 NZD

60 inch (1524mm x 508mm) $650 NZD

84 inch (2133mm x 711mm) $750 NZD

Salt collecting

Uyuni contains large amounts of sodium, potassium, lithium and magnesium. 10 billion tonnes of salt and 9 million tonnes of lithium. Lithium of course is very valuable and American mining companies have tried hard to set up mining operations in Uyuni. However locals have fiercely rejected those efforts and have plans to set up plants themselves, in the meantime small amounts of salt and other minerals are extracted all by pickaxe, manual labour, and trucks. There is something beautiful about watching a husband and wife team slowly going about mining operations.

Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world, covering 10,582 square kilometres, and with the height only varying a total of 1 meter over the entire area. Because of this large area and extreme flatness Uyuni is used to calibrate the earth's satellites. Like most salt flats Uyuni was once a massive salt lake which has since dried up and comes with islands and carbonate reefs.