Cenozoic uplift of the Tibetan Plateau:Evidence from the tectonic-sedimentary evolution of the western Qaidam Basin

Geologists agree that the collision of the Indian and Asian plates caused uplift of the Tibet Plateau. However, controversy still exists regarding the modes and mechanisms of the Tibetan Plateau uplift. Geology has recorded this uplift well in the Qaidam Basin. This paper analyzes the tectonic and sedimentary evolution of the western Qaidam Basin using sub-surface seismic and drill data. The Cenozoic intensity and history of deformation in the Qaidam Basin have been reconstructed based on the tectonic developments, faults growth index, sedimentary facies variations, and the migration of the depositional depressions. The changes in the sedimentary facies show that lakes in the western Qaidam Basin had gone from inflow to still water deposition to withdrawal. Tectonic movements controlled deposition in various depressions, and the depressions gradually shifted southeastward. In addition, the morphology of the surface structures in the western Qaidam Basin shows that the Cenozoic tectonic movements controlled the evolution of the Basin and divided it into （a） the southern fault terrace zone, （b） a central Yingxiongling orogenic belt, and （c） the northern fold-thrust belt; divided by the XI fault （Youshi fault） and Youbei fault, respectively. The field data indicate that the western Qaidam Basin formed in a Cenozoic compressive tectonic environment caused by the India--Asia plate collision. Further, the Basin experienced two phases of intensive tectonic deformation. The first phase occurred during the Middle Eocene--Early Miocene （Xia Ganchaigou Fm. and Shang Ganchaigou Fro., 43.8- 22 Ma）, and peaked in the Early Oligocene （Upper Xia Ganchaigou Fro., 31.5 Ma）. The second phase occurred between the Middle Miocene and the Present （Shang Youshashan Fro. and Qigequan Fro., 14.9-0 Ma）, and was stronger than the first phase. The tectonic--sedimentary evolution and the orienta- tion of surface structures in the western Qaidam Basin resulted from the Tibetan Plateau uplift, and recorded the periodic northward growth of the Plateau. Recognizing this early tectonic--sedimentary evolution supports the previous conclusion that northern Tibet responded to the collision between India and Asia shortly after its initiation. However, the current results reveal that northern Tibet also experi- enced another phase of uplift during the late Neogene. The effects of these two stages of tectonic activity combined to produce the current Tibetan Plateau.

Natural Gas Types,Distribution Controlling Factors,and Future Exploration in the Western Qaidam Basin

The Paleogene and Neogene oil and gas in the western Qaidam basin have a regular distribution in three concentric zones from the edge to the center of the basin. Natural gas mainly occurs in the inner zone, and the gas-oil ratio of the northern area of the basin is significantly higher than that of the southern area. Large amounts of carbon isotope data of natural gas, plotted in X- shaped and comprehensive identification diagrams for the southern area and northern area, respectively, were used to identify the types of natural gas. The large-scale distribution of natural gas is highly consistent with the Ro values of major source rocks, but is poorly correlated with the type of organic matter. This indicates that the main controlling factor of natural gas distribution is organic matter maturity, and the kerogen types act as the basis for the formation of different types of natural gas. Paleouplifts and squeezed anticlines near hydrocarbon generation depression centers, which are major natural gas-rich regions, control the migration directions of natural gas, while hydrocarbon migration pathways and fault systems connecting gas sources are the most important factors for natural gas reservoir formation in the inner basin. Therefore, favorable zones for natural gas distribution can be predicted on the basis of the distribution of thermal evolution and the gas generation intensity of major source rocks as well as the structural map. The Shizigou-Youshashan- Yingdong-Dawusi, Youquanzi -Kaitemilike - Youdunzi, and Xiaoliangshan - Nanyishan - Dafengshan structural belts are favorable zones for natural gas accumulation. This study has important theoretical and practical significance for future natural gas exploration.

Deep Drilling Campaign in the Western Qaidam Basin,NE Tibetan Plateau and their Revealed Global Temperature Forcing of Salt Formation in the Late Miocene-Quaternary

The Qaidam Basin in the NE Tibetan Plateau has contributed the largest amount of potash in China.However,how the potash was formed has long been a subject of debate.Here we carried out a deep drilling

Origin and evolution of oilfield brines from Tertiary strata in western Qaidam Basin:Constraints from ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr,δD,δ^(18)O,δ^(34)S and water chemistry

Chemistry of major and minor elements,87Sr/86Sr,δD,δ18O and δ34S of brines were measured from Tertiary strata and Quaternary salt lakes in the western Qaidam Basin.The water chemistry data show that all oilfield brines are CaCl2 type.They were enriched in Ca2+,B3+,Li+,Sr2+,Br-,and were depleted in Mg2+,SO42-,which indicated that these brines had the characteristics of deeply circulated water.The relationship between δD and δ18O shows that all data of these brines decline towards the Global Meteoric Water Line(GWL) and Qaidam Meteoric Water Line(QWL),and that the intersection between oilfield brines and Meteoric Water Lines was close to the local spring and fresh water in the piedmont in the western Qaidam Basin.The results suggest that oilfield brines has initially originated from meteoric water,and then might be affected by water-rock metamorphose,because most oilfield brines distribute in the range of metamorphosing water.The 87Sr/86Sr values of most oilfield brines range from 0.71121 to 0.71194,and was less than that in salt lake water(>0.712),but close to that of halite in the study area.These imply that salt dissolution occurred in the process of migration.In addition,all oilfield brines have obviously much positive δ34S values(ranging from 26.46‰ to 54.57‰) than that of salt lake brines,which was caused by bacterial sulfate reduction resulting in positive shift of δ34S value and depleteed SO42-in oilfield brines.Combined with water chemical data and δD,δ18O,87Sr/86Sr,δ34S values,we concluded that oilfield brines mainly originate from the deeply circulated meteoric waters,and then are affected by salt dissolution,water-rock metamorphose,sulfate reduction and dolomitization during the process of migration.These processes alter the chemical compositions of oilfield brines and accumulate rich elements(such as B,Li,Sr,Br,K and so on) for sustainable utilization of salt lake resources in the Qaidam Basin.

Restoration of Eroded Thickness of the Neogene Strata in the Western Qaidam Basin and Its Significance for Oil and Gas Occurrence

During the Pleistocene, the western Qaidam Basin has largely experienced strong structural reconstruction and strong erosion. First, the eroded thickness of Neogene strata was restored approximately by the stratigraphic profile comparison method and plane trend surface restoring method; then, accurate calculation of erosion was recovered using vitrinite reflectance, and the erosion that was restored by the trend surface restoring method was corrected; finally, a distribution map of cumulative erosion was produced. This study marks an important achievement in that one of the most important parameters of basin tectonic evolution, sedimentary evolution, and oil and gas accumulation history has been obtained, and that a basic geological problem has been solved in the Qaidam Basin. The areas with high erosion and low erosion are shown in the map and a close relation between the distribution of oil and gas fields and erosion was recognized. Large and medium oil and gas fields are mainly distributed in areas with medium and low erosion. It is difficult to form large-scale oil and gas accumulation in areas in which erosion is more than 2000 m. The mechanism of the relation between oil and gas distribution and erosion is explained. This study will be of use in predicting the distribution of oil and gas.

Lithospheric structures across the Qiman Tagh and western Qaidam Basin revealed by magnetotelluric data collected using a self-developed SEP system

Geophysics offers an important means to investigate the physical processes occurring inside the earth.In particular,since the 1960s,electromagnetic(EM)methods have played important roles in mineral exploration and engineering investigation.Such investigation requires extensive data acquisition and experimental analysis based on geophysical techniques.However,high-performance geophysical equipment,particularly EM exploration equipment,has been dominated by large geophysical companies from the United States,Canada,Germany,and other European countries for decades.This has limited the development of deep exploration technology in China.Recently,we have developed a high-resolution acquisition system with a wireless control unit and a high-power transmitting system for surface EM prospecting(SEP).The new system has been tested in the high-intensity,noisy environment in Jian-sanjiang area,Heilongjiang Province.We then conducted a field survey on the western edge of Qaidam Basin,Qinghai Province.A highly conductive anomaly was found in the upper mantle below the Qinmantage Mountains,which indicates a possible northward fluid channel that runs from below the Qinmantage Mountains to the bottom of the western crust of the Qaidam Basin.Identification of this significant feature was made possible by the new SEP for its better resolution than the previous systems.Also,geophysical analysis confirmed that the thick Cenozoic sediments of the Qaidam Basin are underlain by rigid Precambrian basement rocks and are characterized by a series of folds.The resistivity profile indicates that the Qaidam Basin was formed due to the folding structures in the northern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau which provided an additional evidence for the uplifting of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Characteristics, Genesis, and Sedimentary Environment of Duplex-Like Structures in the Jurassic Sediments of Western Qaidam Basin, China

A particular type of soft-sediment deformation structure, similar to imbricate structure, is developed in the Jurassic strata at Honggouzi, western Qaidam Basin, China. We refer to this structure as a duplex-like deformation structure, because it is inferred to have been formed by the action of fast-moving, submarine gravity current sediments gliding across a pre-existing semiconsolidated sedimentary layer. The layers of duplex-like structure crop out in the southeastern limb of the core of a medium-sized anticline. The average dip direction of the duplex-like structure is 301.2° and the average dip angle is 54.7°. Duplex-like deformed laminations are composed mainly of weakly metamorphosed, extremely poorly sorted, feldspathic lithic graywacke. Sericite can be observed along bedding planes. The duplex-like structure occurs within a sequence of river-channel fine conglomerate, interchannel carbonaceous mudstone（shale）, shallow-water delta sand-shale, shallow-lake calcareous mudstone, olistostromes, and a turbidite. At the bottom of the sequence, we found brownish-red shallow-lake calcareous mudstone and carbonaceous mudstone and at the top olistostromes whose genesis is related to the slip and drag of a slumped body of submarine sediment. In combination with other symbiotic and associated structures, it is considered that the duplex-like structure was formed by the slumping and subsequent movement and traction of delta-front semiconsolidated sediments over the bottom sediments of a shore or shallow-lake sedimentary environment, probably triggered by an earthquake. The attitude of the duplex-like structure indicates that the direction of gliding was from NW301.2° toward SE121°, which is consistent with the current location of the Altun Mountains, indicating that the Altun Mountains existed in the Jurassic. The orogenesis of these mountains likely involved seismic activity, and an earthquake was the triggering factor in the formation of the duplex-like structure by causing the slumping/gliding of the olistostrome sediments.

Geothermal Field and Tectono-Thermal Evolution since the Late Paleozoic of the Qaidam Basin,Western China

The Qaidam basin is the largest intermountain basin inside Tibet, and is one of the three major petroliferous basins in western China. This study discussed the geothermal field and tectono-thermal evolution of the basin, in an effort to provide evidence for intracontinental or intraplate continental dynamics and basin dynamics, petroleum resources assessment, and to serve petroleum production.

柴达木盆地西缘尕斯库勒湖流域地下水流数值模拟及地下水资源评价

尕斯库勒湖流域所属行政区茫崖市自建市以来尚未建设较大规模的集中供水水源,在以水定产、以水定城的城市发展构架下,评价流域地下水资源及开采潜力对城市发展至关重要。文章基于资料收集、动态长观、钻孔抽水试验等手段,采用断面径流量法结合流域尺度的数值模拟,评价了区内地下水天然资源量和允许开采量,并对地下水开采后对水文环境的影响进行了评估。结果表明:尕斯库勒湖流域地下水天然资源量为98.82×10^(4)m^(3)/d,允许开采量为23.5×10^(4)m^(3)/d,地下水资源开采系数<0.4,开采程度低;开采稳定后下游泉水减少10.89×10^(4)m^(3)/d,蒸发量减少12.88×10^(4)m^(3)/d,开采量和泉水及蒸发量减少之和相等,开采地下水间接袭夺了无效蒸发和部分泉水;下游湿地区降深≤0.5 m,湿地面积不产生退化;尕斯库勒湖入湖量减少2.53×10^(4)m^(3)/d,能维持湖泊及湿地周围生态环境的良性循环。

咸化湖盆页岩油地质特征及资源潜力评价方法——以柴西坳陷下干柴沟组上段为例

柴达木盆地西部坳陷的英雄岭地区古近系下干柴沟组上段(E32)页岩油获勘探重大突破。下干柴沟组上段沉积时期属于典型的咸化湖盆,通过岩芯观察和X射线衍射全岩、地球化学、储层物性分析,发现在此环境下形成的页岩及页岩油具有明显的特性:(1)页岩以碳酸盐岩矿物为主,岩性以纹层状云灰岩和层状灰云岩为主;(2)烃源岩具有低TOC、高转化率的特点,游离烃含量高,具有明显的石油“超越效应”,而且页岩的含油性和生烃潜量与碳酸盐矿物含量呈正相关性;(3)储层表现为特低孔、特低渗的特点,黏土矿物类型以伊利石和伊蒙混层为主,有利于页岩油的稳产和高产;(4)地层压力系数高,能量充足,原油轻质组分多、气油比高。柴西坳陷E32页岩层系厚度大、面积广,为了评价其资源潜力,将柴西坳陷划分为小梁山、英雄岭、扎哈泉和茫崖4个凹陷,首先应用成因法计算资源量,然后用体积法、容积法和类比法验证其结果的可靠性,最终用德尔菲法确定页岩油总的资源量为69×10^(8)t。本文研究成果具有重要的意义:(1)明确了咸化湖盆页岩油独特的地质特征,指出富油层系的岩性组合;(2)提出了计算吸附烃的计算公式,提供了一套切实可行的页岩油资源量的评估方法;(3)资源量的落实证实了柴西坳陷具有可观的页岩油资源潜力,坚定了勘探信心;(4)多因素综合划定的I类有利区带面积为2460km^(2),指出了下一步勘探的现实领域。

柴西地区新生界湖相微生物碳酸盐岩岩相组合差异性及控制因素

利用大量露头和岩心薄片及分析化验资料,对柴达木盆地西部地区新生界咸化湖相微生物碳酸盐岩的岩石学特征、微观结构、岩相组合、沉积环境及其控制因素进行了研究。研究结果表明:(1)柴西地区微生物碳酸盐岩岩相组合受古地貌、沉积环境、陆源碎屑供给等因素影响,可分为扇控型和湖控型,扇控型主要发育在湖泊边缘的滨岸环境,分布范围大;湖控型多发育在盆缘斜坡区、断阶带及盆内浅水区,分布范围较小;古近系下干柴沟组上段主要发育扇控型,湖控型发育较局限,上述2类岩相组合在新近系下油砂山组均发育。(2)研究区不同岩相组合中微生物碳酸盐岩的类型与结构特征存在较大差异,扇控型微生物碳酸盐岩形成于湖侵时期,正旋回沉积为主,主要是凝块石,常叠置于厚层块状砂砾岩之上;微观结构以团块(凝块)、球粒及聚合粒为主;矿物成分以亮晶方解石为主。湖控型微生物碳酸盐岩在湖侵、湖退时期均可发育,正、反旋回沉积均发育,凝块石、叠层石及二者共生层均发育,规模相对较小,多与泥晶碳酸盐岩互层;微观结构更复杂,团块(凝块)、球粒及聚合粒和叠层结构均发育;矿物成分以方解石和白云石为主,含丰富的陆源碎屑、黏土矿物等,混积特征明显。(3)研究区扇控型微生物碳酸盐岩的形成主要受控于有机矿化作用和化学沉淀作用;湖控型微生物碳酸盐岩的形成则受控于有机矿化作用、化学沉淀作用以及物理沉积作用。

膏盐影响烃源岩T_(max)的实质——以柴达木盆地西部古近系下干柴沟组为例

沉积盆地中的地质观察和热模拟实验研究均揭示了含膏泥岩生烃高峰提前的现象,而生烃高峰的提前量与膏岩含量之间的关系却尚未明确。选取柴达木盆地西部地区S49-1井中不同膏岩含量的下干柴沟组烃源岩粉末样品,对原样进行抽提,除去可溶有机质(SOM);取部分抽提残余物进行酸洗,除去碳酸盐;对原样和两步前处理后的固体残余物分别进行岩石热解分析。与原样的T_(max)相比,不含SOM的残余物的T_(max)更高,而去除SOM和碳酸盐矿物的样品Tmax更低,这表明含膏泥页岩中的SOM和硫酸盐矿物(石膏、硬石膏)均可促进有机质热演化。虽然后者的促进效果更为显著,但却与其硫酸盐矿物含量不成正比。这表明硫酸盐矿物与有机质的接触面积对T_(max)的影响更为重要。该结论进一步通过不同比例的干酪根与硫酸镁粉末混合物的Tmax值进行了验证。因此,硫酸盐矿物的赋存状态会直接影响有机质与硫酸盐的接触关系,进而对热演化生烃进程产生影响。

柴达木盆地咸化湖盆低有机质丰度烃源岩高效生烃模式

通过实验模拟和地球化学分析,系统研究柴达木盆地柴西坳陷古近系烃源岩的生烃母质、有机质富集与生烃模式。柴达木咸化湖盆烃源岩总有机碳含量(TOC)值偏低的原因主要有3方面:相对贫乏的营养物质供应抑制了藻类勃发、过快的沉积速率导致有机质被稀释、较高的有机质转化效率导致残留有机碳偏低。针对这类富氢有机质生烃过程中有机碳降低,应用TOC值评价有机质丰度时需根据成熟度对其进行恢复。柴达木盆地咸化湖盆烃源岩生烃包括可溶有机质生烃和不溶有机质生烃两部分。可溶有机质主要继承于生物体在咸化湖盆中得以保存,在低演化阶段生烃形成的烃富含氮、氧、硫等杂原子化合物,在后期二次裂解形成轻质烃类组分;不溶有机质即干酪根生烃模式符合传统的“Tissot”模式,生油高峰对应于Ro值1.0%左右。

柴达木盆地西部古近系储层裂缝有效性的影响因素

古近系盐湖相裂缝性泥灰岩储层是柴达木盆地西部地区的重要储层类型,储层中发育剪切裂缝、纵张裂缝、顺层滑动裂缝和成岩裂缝4种类型。裂缝普遍被方解石、石膏或钙芒硝等充填,裂缝的有效性对储层评价十分重要。有效裂缝不仅提供了储层的重要储集空间和主要渗流通道,还决定了油气的富集规律和储层的潜在生产能力。裂缝的有效性主要受裂缝形成时间、溶蚀作用、第四纪以来的构造抬升剥蚀作用、异常流体高压作用、膏盐层分布和断层的活动性等因素控制。晚期形成的裂缝有效性更好;溶蚀作用可明显地增加裂缝的有效性;第四纪以来的构造抬升剥蚀作用和异常流体高压作用可使裂缝重新裂开,使裂缝的有效性变好;离膏盐层越远,裂缝的有效性越好。裂缝的有效性与现今地应力方向关系不密切,主要受断层活动的影响,与主断层平行的裂缝有效性最好。

柴达木盆地西部卤水水化学特征与找钾研究

柴达木盆地自中生代末—新生代初以来,四周山体不断抬升,形成"高山深盆"的沉积环境,为盆地带来了大量盐类物质,再加上晚第三纪干旱封闭的气候环境,使其西部沉积了广阔而厚层的盐岩。在对柴达木盆地西部第三系、第四系地层出露盐矿点实地考察的过程中,采集、分析了22件水样品的水化学组成,通过K+含量及一些水化学系数变化特征的研究,查明了卤水的水化学类型主要为氯化物型和硫酸镁亚型,其成因基本属溶滤岩盐卤水、深部循环水以及二者的混合水体,Br-、B3+、Sr2+、Li+等微量离子含量较高,区域差异性较大,出现显著水化学系数异常;相比之下,柴达木盆地西部南翼山坳陷Br-、B3+、Sr2+、Li+含量值明显高于昆特依、察汗斯拉图、油砂山、开特米里克、油泉子、油墩子等坳陷区。Br×103/Cl、K×103/Cl等具找钾意义的水化学系数比其他地区高1～2倍,Br-、K+出现相对的富积,推测该坳陷成盐原始卤水曾浓缩达到较高析盐阶段或可能有大量深部富钾水体的补给,可作为寻找钾盐矿(富钾卤水)重点区域之一。

柴达木盆地西部新生代沉积特征及其对阿尔金断裂走滑活动的响应

柴达木盆地西部新生代沉积的发育受昆仑山(及青藏高原)崛起和阿尔金断裂的走滑活动控制。基于对该地新生界尤其是下油砂山组沉积环境的剖析,并与邻区的索尔库里北盆地进行对比,对阿尔金断裂的新生代的活动提出以下认识。1)古近纪为右行走滑,中新世起变为左行走滑,在盆地北缘伴随走滑发生的冲断作用,早期向北东扩展,晚期向南西扩展。2)阿尔金断裂的斜冲作用在始新世和上新世表现尤为明显,控制了下干柴沟组上段和狮子沟组异常高的沉积速率和沉积中心自西向东迁移。3)中新世是阿尔金断裂的松弛期,在次级北东向正断层的联合作用下可能在柴西形成拉分盆地,因而盆地发育特征明显不同于邻区的索尔库里北盆地。4)新近纪阿尔金断裂在左行走滑的大背景下经历了一个陆内的拉张—挤压旋回。

柴达木盆地西部地区新生代演化特征与青藏高原隆升

通过对柴达木盆地西部地区(柴西地区)地震剖面构造-沉积相演化的分析,结合基底岩性及区域构造运动历史,重建了柴西地区新生代构造-沉积动态演化框架。柴西地区新生代以来一直处在印欧板块碰撞所引起的青藏高原阶段性隆升的挤压构造背景下,经历了两大构造变形期:第一变形期主要发育在古近纪,变形高峰在下干柴沟组上段,第二变形期发育在新近纪—第四纪,变形强度日益加剧。剖面沉积相的变化体现柴西地区经历了水进—静水沉降—水退的过程,平面沉积相演变是沉积中心受构造运动控制的直接结果;受构造演化控制柴西地区以Ⅺ号(油狮断裂)和油北断裂为分界线,由南至北地表形态表现为3种不同样式:柴西南区断裂发育,柴西中部为英雄岭新生造山带,柴西北区主要发育冲断褶皱。柴西地区构造-沉积演化特征是对青藏高原阶隆升的响应,同时记录了青藏高原向北间歇性蔓延生长的过程。

柴达木盆地西部狮子沟—英东构造带构造演化及控藏特征

柴达木盆地西部狮子沟—英东构造带近年来陆续获得重要油气发现,油气探明储量超亿吨,勘探潜力巨大,但复杂构造、沉积演化控制下的油气成藏与油气分布规律有待进一步研究。文中通过对构造带不同构造部位的沉降史模拟、地层缩短率计算及构造样式、构造变形特征的综合分析与对比,结合包裹体测温、埋藏史模拟及主成藏期确定,明确了新生代构造变形特征及其成藏过程与油气分布的控制作用。研究表明:(1)构造带的演化可分为4个阶段。路乐河组(E1+2)—下干柴沟组下段(E13),初始弱断陷期;下干柴沟组上段(E23),快速沉降期;上干柴沟组(N1)—下油砂山组(N12),坳陷期;上油砂山组(N22)至今,构造抬升期。(2)构造带主要经历两次构造活动高峰,其中下干柴沟组(E23)时期构造活动控制了区内主力烃源岩演化。上油砂山组(N22)沉积末期构造变形控制了圈闭的形成及变形规律。(3)英东地区主要是两期成藏,分别发生于下油砂山组(N12)沉积末期和上油砂山组(N22)沉积末期;新生代构造演化及油气匹配关系控制了狮子沟—英东构造带的东、西成藏差异与油气分布。

柴达木盆地西部新生界异常高压:分布、成因及对油气运移的控制作用

如同世界上其它新生代沉积盆地那样,柴达木盆地在一定深度,区域上普遍存在异常高压。异常高压出现在快速沉积的厚层泥质岩中,水热增压效应明显,而且在上新世末至今发生了强烈的以水平挤压为主的构造运动,因此异常高压的形成是由于不均衡压实作用和构造挤压作用所引起的压应力增大以及热液压力引起流体体积的变化。异常高压是油气运聚的一种重要动力来源:在油气运移中,可以使上覆封隔层产生大量微裂缝,油气向上运移到在较低压储集层中,也可以使封闭性断层开启,通过断层进行侧向运移。

柴达木盆地西部第三系油田水水文地球化学特征

柴达木盆地西部第三系油田水具有高矿化度特征，钾、硼、锂等离子达到工业开采品位，氢同位素值分布在-75.61‰～13.35‰，氧同位素值分布在-7.68‰～10.58‰。综合分析油田水化学成分、水化学参数组合以及氢氧同位素特征推断：柴达木盆地西部第三系油田水起源于大气降水，为典型陆相成因，为大气降水沿深大断裂下渗并经历了“深循环”作用形成，同时有深源岩浆流体的参与。油田水高矿化度特征与盐类矿物溶解和蒸发浓缩有关，钾、硼、锂等元素受深源流体控制，Ca2＋和HCO3-主要来源于碳酸盐矿物溶解，油田水高Ca2＋、低Mg2＋的特征与演化过程中白云石交代方解石以及方解石溶解有关，充分的水-岩反应与深源流体的加入导致柴达木盆地西部第三系深成CaCl 2型油田水的形成。同时，初步推断南翼山地区第三系可能具有找钾意义。