Potash in a salt mushroom at Hormoz Island, Hormoz Strait, Iran

Increasing volumes of potash are currently being discovered in a cluster of diapirs of Hormoz (formerly Hormuz) salt near Bandar Abbas, Iran. Most of the potash beds studied so far occur in complex recumbent folds in a salt mountain that would be difficult to exploit safely. However, Holocene marine erosion removed any salt mountains from a sub-group of near-shore Zagros diapirs and exposed their deeper structural levels. Even though these diapirs are still active, their potash deposits are likely more tractable to safe exploitation than in a salt mountain — as we make clear here for Hormoz Island.Geochemical surveys on Hormoz Island reveal two separate potash anomalies that are valuable pseudo-stratigraphic markers. Integrating field measurements of the attitudes of bedding with lineaments on air photos suggests that Hormoz Island consists of a mature bell- or plume-shaped mushroom diapir with potash beds wound around a toroidal axis of rotation near current exposure levels.2D numerical models simulate the salt mushroom on Hormoz Island and its internal circulation. They also suggest that the diapir has a wide overhand above a narrow stem in this gas-rich region. We use the mushroom diapir model to outline a regional exploration strategy that has the potential of influencing the world potash market thereafter.     

基于相化学研究老挝万象钾镁盐矿床形成的机制

老挝万象钾镁盐矿床是一个典型的海相碎屑盐缺硫酸盐型钾盐矿床, 该矿床形成于古近纪, 是古海水蒸发浓缩沉积形成。老挝万象钾镁盐矿床中缺乏硫酸盐和碳酸盐沉积物, 因此深入研究该矿床的形成机制很重要。本文研究探讨了该矿床形成时的古海水特点, 根据相化学, 分析成钾原始卤水的物理化学特性, 从矿体形成的化学基础来研究老挝钾镁盐矿床形成的机制。结果表明: 显生宙以来海水组分发生变化, 经海相非骨骼灰岩和钾盐蒸发岩矿物学研究, 发现这两种沉积岩长期以来连续变化, 在“文石海”是MgSO4型蒸发盐, 在“方解石海”是KCl型蒸发盐, 从白垩纪晚期、第三纪早期的底部石盐溴含量及矿物学特征表明, 此时处于“方解石海”, 古海水组分的特点是造成缺硫酸盐型钾盐矿床形成的物化基础; 通过NaCl-KCl-MgCl2-H2O和NaCl-KCl-MgCl2-CaCl2-H2O两个体系相图的分析认为, 当时所形成的成钾原始体系母液是高镁、低钾氯化物型的卤水, 在母液蒸发过程中, 由于原始海侵母液与残余高镁母液的掺杂作用, 致使结晶路线直接从氯化钠区到E点母液或光卤石与氯化钠共饱线上, 而没有通过氯化钠和氯化钾的共饱线, 因而在矿体中氯化钾相很少或几乎不存在, 由于外界CaCl2型水体的掺杂, 使成钾母液进入光卤石相区, 随着蒸发的进行, 最终形成溢晶石矿物。     

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.     

滇西南思茅盆地盐构造研究及找钾初探

滇西南思茅盆地是我国重要的含钾盐盆地,勐野井钾盐矿也是我国目前发现唯一的固体氯化钾盐矿床。本文通过综合分析滇西南成盐成钾的地质背景、古环境和构造演变、含盐(钾)地层的沉积建造特征、矿区勘探剖面的盐构造的形态、重力剖面和EH4测量电性断面,参照2500m、3000m的MK-1和MK-2基准井,推测了研究区的断裂构造、底辟构造,认为勐野井钾盐矿体是沿断裂由深部在挤压构造作用下底辟浅部揉扭流动至浅部地层中,并采用3D建模及可视化技术,建立了岩盐体在地下3D结构。利用"平衡剖面技术"的原理,示意深部岩盐体在拉张和挤压构造作用下,岩盐体沿断层塑流的过程,分析了形成各种底辟构造的动力机制。该研究拓展了滇西南思茅盆地的找盐(钾)思路,为思茅盆地未来找钾和勐野井钾盐矿的后期开发具有参考意义。     

古盐湖卤水温度对钾盐沉积的控制作用探讨

古盐湖卤水的温度对钾盐沉积的控制作用的定量研究是钾盐成矿机理分析的重点和难点。本文分析和测试陕北盐盆奥陶系马家沟组、四川盆地三叠系嘉陵江组、云南兰坪-思茅盆地白垩系及老挝沙空那空盆地白垩系等八个含盐系的石盐岩中的流体包裹体,并利用均一温度计算了古盐湖的蒸发速率。若以老挝白垩纪时盐湖的蒸发速率为标准值100,陕北奥陶纪、四川三叠纪、云南白垩纪的蒸发速率标准值分别为54、68和90,而目前在老挝和云南白垩系都找到了一定规模的钾盐矿,因此高温(气温及水温)是盐湖成钾的有利条件,在卤水演化成钾的过程中可以起到重要的"催化"作用。     

前陆盆地钾盐矿床成因及模式——以西班牙北部埃布罗盆地为例

前陆盆地蕴藏有巨量的钾盐资源,而对于其内的钾盐矿床成因和模式还欠缺系统的总结。西班牙埃布罗盆地是由于伊比利亚和欧亚块体碰撞而形成的前陆盆地。始新世晚期(约36 Ma)海水完全从盆地退出后,在极端干旱气候作用下,由于碰撞造山导致盆地的封闭作用,在南比利牛斯前陆盆地系统的前渊带(即埃布罗盆地北部)形成了典型的厚层含钾石盐_光卤石的正常海相蒸发岩序列。后期受到构造挤压作用,钾盐地层以盐底劈的形式出露在背斜核部。埃布罗盆地钾盐成因是构造、气候和物源三者耦合作用的结果,与中国库车前陆盆地有很大的相似性。据此,作者建议可重点关注盆地南北盐丘地带苏维依组蒸发岩以及卤水的迁移方向。     

库车坳陷西段新生代盐构造特征及演化

库车坳陷古-始新世沉积厚层膏盐岩,在沉积差异形成的重力负载作用下,膏盐岩发生塑性流动,山前的膏盐岩流向盆地内侧,发育盐底辟构造,形成吐孜玛扎盐墙、却勒盐丘,膏盐岩的塑性流动发生在膏盐层沉积后不久,并且持续到上新世库车早期,盐底辟构造主要通过被动底辟作用完成。上新世晚期,库车坳陷受到强烈的挤压作用,发生大规模的逆冲推覆,吐孜玛扎盐墙、却勒盐丘(应变强度薄弱部位)的北侧发育断层,盐岩沿断层刺穿地表,形成底辟型盐墙和喷出型盐席,同时发育整合型米斯坎塔克盐背斜和大宛齐盐枕。库车坳陷的盐构造分为两个阶段:构造平静期(渐新世-上新世),以重力差异负载作用为主,发育底辟型盐构造;构造挤压期(上新世晚期-现今),挤压作用强烈,形成逆冲推覆断层,在不同的构造部位分别形成盐席、盐墙、盐背斜,早期的盐构造对于后续挤压作用下盐构造的形成和演化具有重要的控制作用。     

中国三叠纪钾盐沉积——以四川为例

中国三叠系蒸发岩分布于华南,面积超过100×10⁴km²,发现硫酸钾盐及富钾卤水,钾盐矿物有杂卤石、无水钾镁矾、硫锶钾石及多钙钾石膏等,富钾卤水矿化度255~382g/l,含钾量4~49g/l。蒸发盆地的发展受控于古构造及古地理,经历了开放台地一局限台地一堰塞湖一盐湖的发展阶段。钾盐沉积后,经历多阶段的复杂演变。富钾卤水中的钾主要来自硫酸钾盐的深滤,其次来自蒸发浓缩卤水及火山灰吸附钾的释放。杂卤石与富钾卤水的钾同位素测年值分别为210~150Ma及264~150Ma,说明固液相钾盐同源。从地质背景及成矿环境预测,三叠系的钾盐类型只能是硫酸钾盐,主要目的层为T₁j^5~2及T₂l^4~2,主要成矿带为构造分异及钾异常明显的四川盆地东、西部,富钾卤水的储集取决于蒸发岩地层的含钾性、碳酸盐夹层的裂隙发育程度及构造控矿条件。找矿模型应是油气钾卤兼探。     

罗布泊低品位光卤石矿分布特点及其找矿规律探讨

罗布泊干盐湖位于新疆塔里木盆地东部。1995年以来,在罗布泊发现了超大型规模卤水钾盐矿床,卤水钾盐资源主要赋存于罗北凹地等盐系地层中。近年来调查发现,罗布泊分布有地堑式张性断陷带,不仅控制成钾凹地的形成,其本身也蕴藏有一定规模的固体钾盐资源。地球物理(EH-4)测量显示,断陷带深达1 000 m。在罗布泊盐湖演化过程中,断陷带内出现较小规模的洼地或盐湖,湖表水蒸发浓缩形成卤水,由于罗布泊地堑式断陷带长达30~50 km,向下延长深度可达1000 m,说明罗布泊断陷带内可以形成和储集一定规模的固体钾盐矿,成为今后罗布泊盐湖钾资源扩大找矿的新空间。     

干盐湖阶段的沉积特征兼论钾盐矿层的形成

盐盆地演化到析钾阶段时,广袤的干盐滩与若干卤水湖并存。这种特殊的地质地埋背景称为“干盐湖”。察尔汉盆地是现代干盐湖的一个典型实例。由于选择性溶解作用使钾富集在水位最低的卤水湖内,并在干盐滩与卤水湖之间的平坦湖滨地带形成钾盐层。成钾机理与现代海滨萨布哈类似,但钾-镁盐类来源于干盐滩内的孔隙(晶间)卤水。     

A study of erosion rates on salt diapir surfaces in the Zagros Mountains, SE Iran

Salt exposures and weathering residuum on several salt diapirs in different geographic/climatic settings were studied. Anhydrite, gypsum, hematite, calcite, dolomite, quartz, and clay minerals are the main constituents of the weathering residuum covering the salt diapirs in various thicknesses. Erosion rates of residuum as well as of rock salt exposures were measured at selected sites for a period of 5 years by plastic pegs as benchmarks. Recorded data were standardized to a horizontal surface and to long-term mean precipitation. For the rock salt exposures the following long-term denudation rates were determined of 30–40 mm a⁻¹ for coastal diapirs and up to 120 mm a⁻¹ for mountain salt diapirs. Long-term mean superficial denudation rate measured on weathering residuum of low thickness reached 3.5 mm a⁻¹ on coastal diapirs. The total denudation rate estimated for the thin residuum is close to 4–7 mm a⁻¹ based on apparent correlation with the uplift rate on Hormoz and Namakdan diapirs. Denudation of rock salt exposures is much faster compared to parts of diapirs covered by weathering residuum. The extent of salt exposures is an important factor in the morphological evolution of salt diapirs as it can inhibit further expansion of the diapir. Salt exposures produce huge amounts of dissolved and clastic load, thus affecting the surrounding of the diapir.     

江陵凹陷沙钾3井古近系沙市组地球化学特征及成钾指示

在盐湖沉积演化过程中,钾镁盐在盐类矿物沉积的中晚期才开始结晶析出。因此,研究含盐系地层中盐类矿物的沉积地球化学特征,不仅可以从侧面获取岩盐的沉积物物质来源和成盐期古卤水蒸发浓缩程度等地球化学信息,而且可以直接揭示古盐湖期钾盐富集趋势及规律。目前,除在江陵凹陷的古近系沙市组等含盐系内发现了富钾卤水外,还在中-南部的钻孔盐矿盐岩中,发现了微量钾石盐和钾石膏,这些说明该凹陷古近纪具有成钾潜力。本文通过对SK3井蒸发岩特征研究及岩芯中K、Mg、Cl、Br离子含量与Br×103/Cl系数的垂向变化分析,揭示古盐湖浓缩演化与钾盐富集趋势,进一步揭示该层段沉积时期及所在凹陷古盐湖卤水钾的富集程度。     

盐湖锂资源开发利用及对中国锂产业发展的建议

近年来,锂及其化合物的用途日益重要而广泛,特别是电动车和各种移动电子设备对大小功率锂电池的需求急剧增长,大大带动了锂资源的开发利用。全球锂资源有80%以上蕴藏在盐湖卤水、油田水、地热水等液体矿床中。在被称为"锂三角"的南美安第斯高原的智利、阿根廷、玻利维亚交界处,分布有丰富的盐湖锂资源,当地少雨、多风、极度干燥的自然条件,对开发盐湖资源十分有利,在当今世界锂开发潮流中,已成为一大热点地区。文章介绍了世界盐湖卤水锂资源的状况和开发利用工艺流程;作为多个新兴产业交汇点的锂产业,从上游锂资源调查评价、加工利用到下游各种产品的研制,近年来在中国都取得了长足发展;最后对中国锂产业的发展提出了一些建议。     

西藏扎北盐湖秋季卤水(硫酸钠亚型)5℃等温蒸发实验研究

西藏扎北盐湖硫酸钠亚型卤水中富含元素Li、B、K和微量元素Rb、Cs等.为了更好地了解卤水在自然条件下的蒸发结晶规律,需对相应卤水进行低温室内等温蒸发实验研究.本文对该盐湖卤水进行了5℃等温蒸发试验,并利用Na+、K+、Mg2+//Cl-、SO42--H2O五元水盐体系0℃相图,构筑了从干基立体图Na2SO4角顶的放射...     

Degree of Brine Evaporation and Origin of the Mengyejing Potash Deposit: Evidence from Fluid Inclusions in Halite

The Mengyejing potash deposit is located in the southern port of the Simao Basin, Yunnan Province, and is hosted in mid-Cretaceous strata. The chemical compositions of fluid inclusions in halite crystals, collected from the level-610 adit in the deposit, were analysed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The results show that the brine is of the Na-K-Mg-Ca-Cl type and has K concentrations that are distinctly higher than those of Mg and Ca, unlike normal brines associated with Cretaceous halite. The high K concentrations indicate that the degree of evaporation of the ancient Mengyejing saline lake was very high, reaching the sylvite deposition stage but rarely reaching the carnallite deposition stage. The trajectory of the H and O isotopic compositions of the brines in the halite-hosted fluid inclusions corresponds to intense evaporation, indicating that the net evaporation exceeded the net inflow of brines. These brine compositions in halite-hosted fluid inclusions were likely formed by the dissolution of previously deposited K-bearing minerals by fresh continental and/or seawater, forming a type of modified seawater, with deep hydrothermal fluids potentially supplying additional potassium. The basin likely experienced multiple seawater incursion, dissolution and redeposition events in a high-temperature environment with high evaporation rates.     

南图尔盖盆地Aryskum坳陷钾盐的测井响应特征及其分布

钾盐作为战略资源,在农业、工业等领域具有重要的使用价值。世界大多数固态钾资源发现于大规模的石油勘探过程中,充分利用各种油气地质、地球物理资料开展钾盐勘探对于国家发展尤为重要。位于哈萨克斯坦的南图尔盖盆地地质构造简单、资源勘探潜力较大。文中以南图尔盖盆地Aryskum坳陷为研究区块,基于其沉积地质特点,结合多口井的常规测井资料及前人研究成果,综合分析自然伽马、自然电位、三孔隙度等测井曲线的响应特征,含钾层段具体表现为自然伽马异常高值,并通过无铀伽马曲线等排除铀、钍元素影响,扩径使得中子值偏高,自然电位异常幅度由砂岩层的负异常变化为正异常,电阻率值偏高,密度值介于2.25~2.45 g/cm³,声波时差在270~350 μs/m范围内。基于含钾层测井曲线特点,利用测井曲线综合识别法、重叠法、交会图法进行研究区钾盐识别。在研究区30余口井中发现有可溶性钾盐层分布,分布在M-Ⅱ-3、M-Ⅱ-2小层底部,其中M-Ⅱ-3层底部为主要钾盐层段,并对各井含钾层段累计厚度进行统计分析。最后,借助地层对比分析含钾层段在横向和纵向上的展布情况,通过等厚图的绘制开展了找钾有利区分析,拓展了测井资料在南图尔盖盆地钾盐勘查中的应用,进而为今后研究区钾盐找矿提供重点方向。     

利用不溶性钾矿提钾的研究现状及展望

简要介绍了我国和世界钾盐资源的分布及钾的供需状况，以及缓解我国缺押局面的主要途径，着重综述了我国不溶性钾矿资源状况和国内外利用不溶性钾矿提钾的研究现状和工业应用成果；最后阐述了利用不溶性钾矿提钾工业中存在的问题及其发展前景。     

Epitaxial salt reefs and mushrooms in the southern Dead Sea

Salt usually accumulates in shallow ephemeral brines as simple flat beds. However, in permanent brines deepening in solar evaporation ponds in the southern Dead Sea, salt accumulation is complicated by the growth of isolated vegetable-like salt structures and networks of polygonal salt walls. These walls divide large salt ponds, which are easily homogenized by wind, into thousands of small compartments that are less easy to mix. Instead, brines in the compartments stratify when a surficial layer about 10 cm thick supersaturates and floats above the cumulate floors on brines that are merely saturated. Salt reef growth in the southern Dead Sea has previously been attributed to mixing of ions common to brines already in the ponds and those pumped in from the northern basin (with or without subsurface brines rising through the pond floors). A new factor is emphasized here that, whatever the origins of the brines, salt reefs remain emergent by epitaxis, the in situ growth of crystalline substrates already in the surficial supersaturated layer. Epitaxis can be invisible in crystal clear brines and prolongs the obvious crystallization season by replacing sedimentation of grains nucleated and grown on the brine surface as the dominant mechanism of deposition. Salt reefs develop botryoidal overhangs that can merge into salt platforms that roof over deep brines. Salt shallows on the reef platforms and around the pond shores are both characterized by the deposition of the thin flat beds with vertical palisade textures well known from other ephemeral brines. Salt reefs are interpreted as tepee structures which have grown by epitaxis as fast as saturated brines have deepened around them. Epitaxis may also account for the rapid deposition of thick beds of pure salt in rifts that open to oceans. Local histories of salt reef compartmentalization can be read from the shapes of reefs that record their relative rates of growth and drowning. Rather than diminish evaporation area, damp emergent salt reefs act as giant transpirative pumps that accelerate salt crystallization and reconfigure the evaporation ponds into areas smaller than thought necessary by chemical engineers. The natural end of reef formation may be when shallow brines on hollow reef platforms become ephemeral on solid salt flats. Former salt reefs are likely to be distinguishable in the undeformed geological record by their botryoidal layers of nonvertical chevron crystals.     

中国钾资源与钾盐工业可持续发展

对全国14个代表性产地的非水溶性钾矿石的研究表明,其主要富钾矿物相均为微斜长石。对此类矿石进行选矿预处理,可制得纯度达75%～95%的钾长石粉体。实验研究结果表明,采用以碳酸钠为配料的中温烧结法,或以碱石灰为配料的水热分解法,均可使钾长石的结构发生分解,生成偏硅酸钠、偏铝酸钾(钠)等化合物,并水解为富含[SiO2(OH)2]2-、Na+、K+的碱性溶液,通入CO2进行酸化反应,滤液为NaHCO3-KH-CO3-H2O三元水盐体系,经浓缩、分离、纯化、结晶,可制取碳酸钾或硫酸钾、硝酸钾等其他钾盐(肥)产品。原矿中的Al2O3和40%以上的SiO2组分亦可制成不同规格的氧化铝和无机硅化合物等高值产品。整个工艺过程符合钾长石资源利用率100%、"三废"接近零排放的高效节能和清洁生产的要求。本项技术实现规模化工业生产,将有助于缓解我国水溶性钾盐资源极缺的矛盾,显著减少钾盐(肥)消费的进口依存度,提高中国钾盐资源的保证程度,维护粮食供给的战略安全。