Tropical deserts are rich in ________ resources.

Tropical deserts are rich in mineral resources. Rich mineral resources are found chiefly in deserts, and some are unique to deserts. Those minerals that occur naturally in dry saline inland bodies of water require sediments and near-surface brines for their formation. Minerals such as borax, sodium nitrate, sodium carbonate, bromine, iodine, calcium and strontium compounds are created when water in desert lakes (playa) evaporate.