Salt-Lake Basin Bedrock Weathered Crust Gas Reservoir in the Altun Mountains Front of the Qaidam Basin,Western China

The bedrock weathered crust in front of the Altun Mountains in the Qaidam Basin,western China,is different from others because this is a salt-lake basin,where saline water fluid infiltrates and is deposited in the overlying strata.A large amount of gypsum infills the bedrock weathered crust,and this has changed the pore structure.Using core observation,polarized light microscopy,electron probe,physical property analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy experiments,the characteristics of the weathered bedrock have been studied.There are cracks and a small number of dissolved pores in the interior of the weathered crust.Matrix micropores are widely developed,especially the various matrix cracks formed by tectonics and weathering,as well as the stress characteristics of small dissolved pores,and physical properties such as porosity and permeability.This‘dual structure’developed in the bedrock is important for guiding the exploration of the lake basin bedrock for natural gas.

Magnetostratigraphy and ^(230)Th dating of a drill core from the southeastern Qaidam Basin:Salt lake evolution and tectonic implications

The Qarhan Salt Lake area is the Quaternary depocenter of the Qaidam Basin, and carries thick lacustrine sediments, as well as rich potassium and magnesium salt deposits. The abundant resources and thick sediments in this lake provide an ideal place for the study of biogas formation and preservation, salt lake evolution, and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we attempt to construct a paleomagnetic and ^(230)Th age model and to obtain information on tectonic activity and salt lake evolution through detailed studies on a 1300-m-long drill core(15DZK01) from the northwestern margin of the Qarhan Salt Lake area(Dongling Lake). Based on gypsum ^(230)Th dating, the age of the uppermost clastic deposit was calculated to be around 0.052 Ma. The polarity sequence consist of 13 pairs of normal and reversed zones,which can be correlated with subchrons C2r.1r-C1n of the geomagnetic polarity timescale(GPTS 2012)(from ~2.070 Ma to ~0.052 Ma). Sedimentary characteristics indicate that Dongling Lake witnessed freshwater environment between ~ 2.070 Ma and 1.546 Ma. During this period, the sedimentary record reflects primarily lakeshore, shallow-water and swamp environments, representing favourable conditions for the formation of hydrocarbon source rocks. Between 1.546 Ma and ~ 0.052 Ma, the Dongling Lake was in sulphate deposition stage, which contrasts with the central Qarhan Salt Lake area, where this stage did not occur in the meantime. During this stage, Dongling Lake was in a shallow saltwater lake environment, but several periods of reduced salinity occurred during this stage. During the late Pleistocene at ~0.052 Ma, the Dongling Lake experienced uplift due to tectonic activity, and saltwater migrated through the Sanhu Fault to the central Qarhan Salt Lake area, resulting in the absence of halite deposition stage. The residual saline water was concentrated into magnesium-rich brine due to the lack of freshwater, and few potassium salt deposits occur in the Dongling Lake area.

The Extremely Hot and Dry Climatic Events and Potash Enrichment in Salt Lakes of the Jiangling Depression, Jianghan Basin

Objective A total of 820 million tons of potash reserves are predicted to exist in the Palaeocene-Eocene of the Jianghan Basin. However, the basin history is still unclear concerning the potash enriching conditions and mechanism. The Well SKDI is the first exploration well drilled in the Paleogene of Jianghan Basin with continuous coring, which was implemented in the south-central Jiangling Basin in 2013. It is essential to study the Palaeocene-Eocene paleoclimate, to further constrain the extreme draught events and the potash forming conditions.

Connections between Evaporite Deposition and Glacial Periods since the Middle Pleistocene in Salt Lakes in the Western Qaidam Basin, China

The Quaternary was the main evaporite deposition period in the Qaidam Basin(QB), but the correlation between the evaporite deposition period and the glacial period is still unclear. In this study, the research objects are primarily evaporite-bearing strata in a 461.58 m-long drill core in the QB. X-ray powder diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) were applied to study the evaporite minerals, U-Th dating being applied to construct the ~(230)Th geochronological framework. Evaporite deposition from Marine Isotope Stage(MIS) 15 to MIS 4 in the borehole was reconstructed via mineralogical and geochronological data. The evaporite minerals are mainly halite(NaCl), mirabilite(Na_(2)SO_(4)·10H_(2)O), thenardite(Na_(2)SO_(4)) and gypsum(CaSO_(4)·2H_(2)O). A total of 9 effective ~(230)Th data points, ranging from 492.5 ± 43.0 ka to 62.0 ± 11.9 ka, were obtained. The depositional age of the earliest halite layer in the borehole is 592.5–563.0 ka. There were mirabilite deposits in the QB during the cold glacial environment of MIS 6. During MIS 4, the study area desiccated, with mirabilite and halite being deposited. This study suggests that mirabilite is an indicator mineral for the glacial environment in the QB, while halite deposition does not correspond well to glaciation.

Geological characteristics and genesis of subbottom pinnoite deposit of Da Qaidam salt lake in Qaidam Basin

Da Qaidam salt lake is known for its both liquid and solid boron resource.Data from previous investigation of the Da Qaidam salt lake provided a comparable framework for this study that focused on investigating the section beneath the bottom of the perennial salt lake,including the timing,

Establish Green Industry System,Improve the Comprehensive Utilization Level of Salt Lake Resources,and Create A New Pattern of Green Sustainable Development in Qaidam Basin

Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province has rich multiple complex resources with salt lakes as the core.These resources form a special condition for the development of green economy,having rare and particular nature.The

Salt Lake in Chaidamu Basin

Chaidamu Basin(柴达木盆地) is in the west of China. It covers an area(地区) of 220,000 square kilometres(平方公里). The number of salt lakes(盐湖) is more than twenty in it. Chaerhan(察尔汗) Salt Lake is the largest in this area. If you get here, you will find that in the lake there is no water but a thick layer(层) of salt. You can walk in it without difficulty, and cars can come and go across it. The thickest layer of salt in this basin is about fifty metres thick. People tried their best to use the salt to build house...

Grain-size characteristics of linear dunes on the northern margin of Qarhan Salt Lake, northwestern China

In order to clarify the formation mechanism of linear dunes on the northern margin of Qarhan Salt Lake, northwestern China, we analyzed the grain-size and sorting parameters of the dune and interdune sands. The surface sands （0-30 ram） from the dune base to the crest of both flanks and interdune corridors were sampled along transects from upwind to downwind through the dune field. The results indicated that the grain-size distribution differed at different positions between and within the dunes. The frequency curve for dune sands mainly showed a bimodal distribution, while the interdune sediments showed a trimodal distribution. The grain size distribution of the linear dunes showed a finer crest pattern, i.e. the crests were composed of sands that were generally finer, better sorted than those of base sands. In addition, at the dune field scale, the dune crest sands were tending to become much finer but sorting became worse along the downwind transects. However, the grain-size parameters of sediments in the interdune corridors showed no clear pattern. The results demonstrated that the grain size and sorting parameters exhibited a systematic change not only at the individual scale but also at the dune field scale. Our results quantitatively estimate the limited role of cohesive sediments on the formation of linear dune under unidirectional wind regime. More attention should be paid to a long-term wind regime observation, internal sedimentary structures and their formation ages.

The formation and evolution of the Qiaojia pull-apart basin,North Xiaojiang Fault Zone,Southwest China

Sedimentary sequences with drastic thickening over short distances have been observed in Qiaojia County,Yunnan Province,Southwest China.These are related to a pull-apart basin controlled by the Xiaojiang strike-slip fault.Our field investigations include determining the surface characteristics of the Qiaojia basin which consists of three terrace sequences and a series of alluvial fans.Several drill holes were used to reveal the internal structure of the basin.The results suggest that the basinal sediments are over 300 m thick.From bottom to top,they can be classified into five different units.We inferred that the units of lacustrine sediments are deposited in a paleolake which was formed by a paleo-landslide.Accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating(AMS ^(14)C dating) was used to estimate the ages of the terrace and lacustrine sediments.We use the results to infer that the paleo-lake has existed about 15,000 years and that the Qiaojia basin was uplifted at an average rate of 3.3 mm/a.Furthermore,we then model the evolution process of the basin and interpreted 6 phases of development.

Pattern analysis of a linear dune field on the northern margin of Qarhan Salt Lake,northwestern China

In terms of formation mechanisms of linear dunes,there are open arguments for their widespread distribution and multi-morphological diversities.In order to clarify the formation mechanism of linear dunes of Qarhan Salt Lake,we used pattern analysis method to analyze the statistical characteristics and spatial variation of their pattern parameters.Except at the west-northwest margin,the pattern parameters showed regular spatial variation from the up-middle part towards the downwind end of the dune field.Based on the cumulative probability plots for inter-crest spacing and crest length,we divided the linear dunes into three groups,which corresponding to the three evolution stages of these dunes.The first group comprises erosional relics,with shorter crests,smaller inter-crest spacing and more random dune orientation.The second group comprises dunes whose sand supply is just sufficient to maintain stability and these dunes are approaching the net erosion stage.The crest length and inter-crest spacing of these dunes are much larger than those of the first group,and dune orientation is closer to the resultant drift direction （RDD） .The last group comprises linear dunes that are still undergoing vertical accretion and longitudinal elongation,which follows the RDD of the modern wind regime.The presence of regular spatial variation of pattern parameters and a similar geometry with the vegetated linear dunes suggest that deposition and erosion coexist in the development and evolution of linear dunes of Qarhan Salt Lake,i.e.deposition predominates at the downwind end of linear dunes in the vertical accretion and longitudinal elongation stage,whereas erosion mainly occurs at the upwind end of linear dunes in the degradation stage.Therefore,the formation mechanism of linear dunes in Qarhan Salt Lake can be reasonably explained by the combination of depositional and erosional theories.

An Insight on Future Development Approaches of Salt Lake Magnesium Resources:from the Current Situation of China's Magnesium Industry

Magnesium-bearing minerals discovered on the earth so far occur mainly as solid or liquid.The former include magnesite(Mg CO3),dolomite(Mg CO3·Ca CO3),carnallite(Mg Cl2·KCl·6H2O),bischofite(Mg Cl2·6H2O)and

Aeolian component records in lacustrine sediments and its atmospheric circulation significance for evolution of Qarhan salt lake,NE Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

1 Introduction The Qarhan Playa of Qaidam Basin is located at the northeastern QinghaiTibetan Plateau(QTP),in which thick lacustrine and evaporate sediments deposited since the late Pleistocene(Chen et al.,1985,1986).As surrounded by capacious Gobi and yardang fields and suffered strong westerly-northwesterly wind,abundant aeolian materials were trapped in these sediment sequences in the

In Search of Portable Water Supplies within a Brine and Mine Water-Invaded Region for Serving Some Communities around Ishiagu, Afikpo and Environs in Abakaliki Basin, Southeast Nigeria

The study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of some towns in the Abakaliki Basin, comprising, Ishiagu, Aka Eze, Amaseri, Afikpo and Okposi communities, with the aim of sourcing for portable water in the area. The basin is underlain by Albian sediments, essentially shales, in the lowlands, which were affected by low-grade metamorphism that had produced slates. The highlands comprise basic intrusives from episodes of magmatism and metallic ore mineralisation. Injection of brines into the aquifer system and low, seasonal aquifer recharge from rainfall results in poor water quality in the area. The study analyzes the geochemical distribution in water sources in the area and identifies sources of pollutants to guide the better choice of portable water. Results of hydrogeochemical analysis of both surface and groundwater from the communities were compared with World Health Organization to identify portable water locations in the area. While the salt lake at Okposi is the main source of brine intrusion in the study area, the Pb/Zn mine at Ishiagu is the main source of mine-water pollution in the study area. Most chemical parameters, (especially Cl-, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, HCO3-) maintain high concentrations within the salt lake area, with the values declining away from the salt lake. The main anthropogenic source of pollution in the area, especially at Ishiagu, is the indiscriminate surface mining of lead-zinc without proposer waste management practices. Possible sourcing for portable water in the study area includes a deep borehole at Ishiagu, away from lead-zinc intrusives. At the Okposi axis, searching for portable water in boreholes should target shallower aquifers that do not communicate with the deeper-seated brine zones, likewise targeting zones farther away from these brine-invaded areas. A controlled pumping rate could potentially ensure that the cone of depression was not low enough to reach the brine zone at depth. In addition, desalination could also potentially render the salt water drinkable if properly handled to eliminate the high concentration of salts in the water to the level of acceptable limit by the WHO. Based on the study, the best area to target for portable water in the study area is Afikpo, with most geochemical elements naturally occurring within WHO’s standard concentration while portable water could be harnessed in areas further away from mining sites, especially at deep groundwater.

内蒙古典型旱区盐湖盆地浅层地下水污染风险评价

为明晰内蒙古阿拉善盟吉兰泰盐湖盆地浅层地下水污染特征及评估地下水饮水安全风险等级,采集了盐湖盆地研究区土壤表层(0—10 cm)样品56个,地下水样品127个,检测分析土壤中重金属元素Cu、As、Pb含量及水样中Cr、Hg、As、F^(-)、NO_(2)^(-)、NO_(3)^(-)含量.运用地下水风险评价概念模型,将地下水脆弱性、地下水污染物容量及土壤毒性污染物潜在生态危害评价有机结合,对地下水污染风险展开评价.借助ArcGIS软件进行克里格插值绘图,探析盐湖盆地浅层地下水风险的空间分布特征.结果表明:盐湖盆地地下水脆弱性指数范围为4.80—5.30属于中等脆弱性,吉兰泰盐湖东南部和吉兰泰镇西北部脆弱性高于其他区域;地下水样品中重金属Hg的含量在《地下水质量标准》中Ⅲ类水水质标准范围内,其他元素均有超标现象,其中F^(-)超标率最高,为62.20%,Cr、As、F^(-)、NO_(2)^(-)、NO_(3)^(-)变异系数分别为125.40%、183.50%、178.70%、248.70%、280.70%,属于强变异性,受外界因素干扰较为明显,研究区地下水特征污染物分布较为集中,主要分布在盐湖盆地的东南部;土壤中重金属Cr、Hg、As的平均含量分别为26.32、0.17、11.77 mg·kg^(-1),与内蒙古当地土壤背景值相比较,Cr的平均值在背景值范围内,而Hg、As的平均值分别超出背景值4.25、1.57倍,土壤综合潜在生态危害指数为188.32,属于中等潜在生态危害,在盐湖盆地中有41.07%的样品点属于中等、强、很强潜在生态危害;盐湖盆地地下水污染风险等级分布不同与含水层脆弱性指数、特征污染物容量指数及潜在生态危害指数有关,较高污染风险区和高风险区分布在锡林高勒镇西部,较高风险以上的面积占研究区面积的25.77%,古拉本敖包镇、贺兰山的东南部在中风险范围内,中风险区面积占研究区面积的11.49%.

新疆库车盆地古近纪—新近纪盐湖成钾与靶区预测

库车前陆盆地位于塔里木盆地北部,属于副特提斯域,古近纪受副特提斯海海水补给,古近纪—新近纪发育巨厚蒸发岩。研究显示,库车盆地始新世和中新世古盐湖卤水已演化至钾盐析出阶段,在地层中广泛发现了原生钾盐矿物,如钾石盐、光卤石、杂卤石等;通过岩芯岩屑地球化学及矿物学分析,基本确定了至少3个富钾层或成钾层位,其中始新统中上部两个和中新统中上部一个,钾离子含量最高达3%,另外,上新统可能存在一个成钾层位。本文在综述此前库车盆地构造、蒸发岩、盐类矿物学、地球化学与盐湖沉积等研究基础上,建立了新的库车盆地古盐湖构造-沉积演变、成钾模式;提出了4个钾盐成矿区带,即北部克拉苏成矿带、中部秋里塔克成矿带、南部沙雅构造沉降成矿带以及东部阳霞凹地成钾区,这些关键认识为库车盆地的钾盐勘查提供了重要的理论和科学依据。

中国含盐盆地卤水溴元素分布与物源

中国含盐盆地赋存丰富的盐湖卤水和深部卤水资源,卤水中富集溴(Br)元素,具有潜在的开发利用价值。Br作为盐湖卤水中重要的资源元素,目前对其分布规律和物质来源的系统对比研究鲜有报道。本文以柴达木盆地察尔汗盐湖四个区段晶间卤水为研究对象,分析整个湖区Br元素分布规律和物质来源,对比中国不同含盐盆地卤水Br资源变化和物源联系,并总结不同卤水开发利用价值。结果表明:①察尔汗盐湖Br含量呈东高西低特征且不同区段差异明显;②别勒滩和达布逊区段卤水低Br受河流补给并经蒸发富集,而察尔汗和霍布逊区段高Br受北部断裂带上涌富Ca泉水补给;③中国含盐盆地(柴达木盆地、库车盆地、江汉盆地、吉泰盆地)大部分深部卤水高Br值主要受水-岩反应、沉积物及有机质中Br的解吸获得;④盐湖晶间卤水虽远不及深部卤水Br含量高,但其优点在于便于开发、综合利用率高,尤其浓缩卤水及老卤中的Br含量可预见性的高于工业开采品位,是当下和今后值得关注的资源。

柴达木盆地东陵湖水化学特征与钾盐分布研究

东陵湖位于柴达木盆地大型钾盐富集基地察尔汗盐湖北部,其浅部石盐层中伴生有光卤石沉积,地勘工作揭示东陵湖浅部边缘地带有寻找低品位固体钾矿的潜力。本文以东陵湖湖表卤水、钻孔晶间卤水、承压卤水、浅层钻孔(0~8 m)盐类沉积物为研究对象,分析研究了东陵湖卤水水化学特征、钻孔沉积物特征及钾盐分布规律,在对比分析察尔汗盐湖钾矿分布特征的基础上,对研究区钾盐成矿作用进行了探讨,主要得出以下结论:①东陵湖周边凹地钻孔的晶间卤水K^(+)平均含量最高(3.19 g/L),其次为凹地钻孔承压卤水(1.46 g/L),湖表卤水(0.74 g/L)和湖区钻孔晶间卤水(0.79 g/L)K^(+)含量较低;东陵湖卤水样品矿化度(TDS)变化范围较大,介于80.63~547.11 g/L之间,不同卤水样品的TDS与K^(+)含量无明显正相关性。②东陵湖钻孔揭露含盐地层厚4.2~6.4 m,岩性以石盐为主,局部含有光卤石沉积,偶见钾石盐;光卤石呈层状和浸染状分布,与石盐呈韵律结构。③东陵湖液体钾矿主要分布于湖区西南侧,卤水K^(+)含量为4.33~6.29 g/L,KCl品位介于0.21%~0.47%之间;固体钾矿主要分布于湖区南侧,沉积物钾含量为2.05%~4.86%,KCl含量介于3.92%~9.29%之间。④东陵湖光卤石沉积区与察尔汗盐湖层状光卤石均沿北缘深大断裂带分布,且后者主要分布于北缘氯化物型水和南缘硫酸镁亚型水混合区域,即达布逊和别勒滩两个洼地北缘,结合Na^(+)、K^(+)、Mg^(2+)、Ca^(2+)//Cl-H_(2)O体系相图和K^(+)-Ca^(2+)相关性分析,认为沿东陵湖南侧深大断裂带补给的Ca-Cl水促进了东陵湖光卤石的沉积。

青海柴达木巴伦马海盆地盐湖黏土型钾锂矿的物质组成及溶矿试验研究

为评价柴达木巴伦马海盆地盐湖黏土型钾锂矿可加工性和可利用性,开展了X射线衍射分析、TOFSIMS(飞行时间二次离子质谱)元素面扫描分析等岩矿测试和溶矿试验。结果表明:盐湖黏土型钾锂矿主要矿物类型为造岩矿物碎屑、盐类矿物、吸附于矿物表面或层状矿物结构面的物质。主要化学成分为K、Na、O、Cl,盐类矿物成分Cl^(-)、SO_(4)^(2-)、K、Ca、Na、Mg、B_(2)O_(3)含量高,稀有元素Li、Rb、Cs、Sr富集明显。黏土层中水可溶物为石盐、光卤石和水氯镁石,Li、K可以通过水溶方式溶取利用。分析认为K的赋存类型主要为可溶性盐类矿物、长石和黏土矿物;锂的赋存类型主要为吸附锂和结构型锂,吸附锂包括水溶锂和酸浸锂,残渣态锂属于结构型锂。溶矿试验显示巴伦马海盐湖黏土型钾锂矿中K达到固体矿工业指标,Li达到液体矿综合评价指标,证实是可采出、有价值、可加工、可利用的矿产,估算潜在LiCl资源为114.41万t,KCl资源为1395.22万t。推荐Li≥32.25×10^(-6)为黏土型钾锂矿的锂综合利用品位。

Tectonic Landform of Quaternary Lakes and Its Implications for Deformation in the Northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Hohxil region in the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is occupied by numerous plateau lakes, which have long been inferred as being tectonic products. However, so far little evidence has been found to support this tentative inference. Field survey and morphotectonic analysis of TM satellite images in the eastern segment of the Hohxil region revealed that Kusai Lake and Yelusu Lake are S- shaped pull-apart basins, which were dominated by left strike-slip master faults trending WNW-ESE. The pull-apart distances of the two lakes are analyzed to be 〈15-20 km and 15 km respectively. Based on studies of the faulting rate, the initiation ages of the pull-apart basins are suggested to be approximately in the Early Pleistocene. The pull-apart basin tectonics is further regarded as a common mechanism for the widely distributed large lake basins in the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Regional distribution of these pull-apart basins and their substantial intra-block slip suggest that a sinistral shear stress, which is independent of the distinguished strike-slip faults, has been imposed on across the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Thus, the intra-block slip may be an important expression of the eastward extrusion of the Plateau crustal material in accommodating the ongoing continent-continent convergence between India and Eurasia. The revelation of pull-apart tectonics within the Plateau hinterland provides field evidence and a possible style of deformation for the newly proposed continuous deformation by the global positioning system （GPS） measurement across the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. A model, with respect to systematic tectonic landform development, for pull- apart basins is finally proposed.

Porosity Distribution Characteristics and Geological Analysis of Brine Storage Medium in the Qaidam Basin, Western China

Underground brine is an unusual water resource that contains abundant mineral resources. It is distributed widely in the Qaidam Basin, western China, a hyperarid inland basin located in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Pores in the brine storage medium act as storage space and transmission channels of underground brine. Therefore, the porosity of brine storage medium determines its ability to store brine. In this study, Mahai Salt Lake was used as the research area as a modern saline lake located in the north area of the Qaidam Basin. A total of 100 porosity samples were collected from eight sampling points in two profiles of the research area at sampling depths of 1.30–314.78 m. The porosity distribution characteristics and influencing factors in brine storage medium were analysed according to the measured porosity data. Based on analysis of the pore structure characteristics, the brine storage medium contains intercrystalline pores, unlike conventional freshwater storage mediums. Moreover, the primary salt rock is susceptible to dissolution by lighter brine, facilitating the formation of secondary porosity. Due to the formation of secondary pores, a porosity greater than 20% remains even at buried depths greater than 100 m. Based on the geological statistical analysis, due to the geographic location, salt formation time, and depositional environment, the porosity values of Mahai Salt Lake do not exhibit a wider distribution, but also show more extreme values than a nearby salt lake. Based on the porosity characteristics by depth, due to the presence of secondary pores, flooding, stratigraphic static pressure, and other factors, porosity shows fluctuations with increasing depth.