Contribution of deep material sources to shallow potash formation of the Quaternary Mahai Salt Lake in the Qaidam Basin: Evidence from isotopes and trace elements

• DOI: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2024.106166
• Publication Date: 2024-07-15T06:00:01Z
• Authors: Yanjun Zhao; Nan Wang; Lijian Shen; Ruiqin Li; Chenglin Liu; Pengcheng Jiao; Yufei Hu; Xianfu Zhao
• Keywords: Halite; Brine

Deep brines in the Qaidam Basin were explored as replacement resources due to continuous and intensive exploitation of shallow high-quality solid potash salts brines. Here, chemical composition Sr, Li, H, O isotopes Mahai Salt Lake its surrounding waters, including deep confined brine, brine water solution mining block, surface runoff, fault-related water, analyzed. The composition, Li isotopes, H from alluvial fan region, Yuqia River, Dezong Lake, block generally characterized by increasing degrees evaporation, concentration, evolution. relatively low content SO42- obvious deviation δ18O value evaporation line further indicates that source Niulang-Zhinv was influenced upwelling fault zone. Sr halite at different depths ZKE9 borehole indicated mined a mixture ancient salt lake multiple periods during evolution lakes. Combined with balance model EQL/EVP, this study simulated concentration processes obtained mixing ratio data on possible sources brine. Our findings showed river (mainly) waters mixed greater than 15:1, followed until salting-out stage.