The Evolution of the Quaternary Salt Lakes in the Qaidam Basin

The paper discusses the distribution of Quaternary sediments, occurrence of saline minerals and phases of neotectonic movements and their manifestations in the Qaidam basin. The formation of four successive lacustrine terraces in Tertiary anticlinal zones in the western part of the basin was related to the neotectonic movements that took place 100 Ka ago, and the distribution of such terraces discloses, in a way. the evolutionary history of the Quaternary salt lakes. According to the distribution of the terraces coupled with the distribution of Quaternary sediments and features of salt deposition, four periods of Quaternary salt lake evolution in the basin may be distinguished, which correspond to four stages of salt deposition respectively.     

Research of Recycled Salt and Glauber’ Salt Precipitation Rules of Yabulai Salt Lake Brine

正1 Introduction The main production of Yabulai salt lake was original salt and recycled salt many years ago.After decade’s production,the sale lake resource is more and more deficient.Glauber's salt and magnesium salt are concentrated in brine now.It could affect the quality of the salt.In recent years,research had done much work to     

Origin of petroleum in the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian South Oman Salt Basin

The South Oman Salt Basin (SOSB) is host to the world’s oldest known commercial deposits. Most of the South Oman oils have been proven to be associated with the source rocks of the Neoproterozoic to Cambrian Huqf Supergroup, but the assignment of oils to specific Huqf intervals or facies has been hampered by the geochemical similarity of the organic matter across the entire Huqf sequence, possibly as a consequence of limited change in the local palaeoenvironment and biota over the time of its deposition. This study was conducted to establish improved correlations between organic-rich rock units and reservoir fluids in the SOSB through detailed molecular and isotopic analysis of the Huqf Supergroup, with special emphasis directed towards understanding the Ara carbonate stringer play.Unusual biomarkers, tentatively identified as A-norsteranes, show distinctive patterns among carbonate stringer oils and rocks different from those observed in Nafun sediments and Ara rocks from the Athel basin. These putative A-norsteranes form the basis for new oil-source correlations in the SOSB and provide for the first time geochemical evidence of a self-charging mechanism for the carbonate stringer play. The paucity of markers specific to the Nafun Group (Shuram, Buah and Masirah Bay formations) confounds attempts to quantify their respective contributions to Huqf oil accumulations. Nafun inputs can only be determined on the basis of subtle differences between Nafun and Ara biomarker ratios. The most useful geochemical characteristics delineating Nafun Group organic matter from Ara Group intra-salt source rocks included: low relative abundance of mid-chain monomethyl alkanes (X-compounds); low relative abundance of gammacerane, 28,30-dinorhopane, 25,28,30-trinorhopane and 2-methylhopanes; low C₂₂T/C₂₁T and high C₂₃T/C₂₄T cheilanthanes ratio values. Based on these parameters, molecular evidence for major contributions of liquid hydrocarbons from Nafun Group sediments (Shuram, Buah and Masirah Bay formations) is lacking. Our results suggest that the majority of SOSB hydrocarbon accumulations originate from within the Ara group, either from the carbonate stringers or from the package of sediments that comprises the Thuleilat, Athel Silicilyte and U shale formations. Subtle aspects of the composition of some carbonate stringer and post-salt Huqf oils could suggest some degree of sourcing from the Nafun rocks but stronger evidence is needed to confirm this.     

Study on the Isothermal Evaporation Process at 5℃ with the Brine of Laguocuo Salt Lake

正1 Introduction Tibet has nurmerous salt lakes.Laguocuo is one of the salt lakes,which is located to the sorthern of Ali Plateau,31°59′02″N-32°04′08″N,84°02′03″E-84°12′03″E.Its lake water is rich in potassium,magnesium,lithium,boron,rubidium,cesium and other resources.The study of     

Potash–Forming Regularity of the Ordovician Marine Northern Shaanxi Salt Basin: Insight from Review and Prospect of the Deep Geology of the Ordos Basin

The Ordovician Northern Shaanxi Salt Basin(ONSSB), located in the east–central Ordos Basin, western North China Craton(NCC), is one of the largest marine salt basins yet discovered in China. A huge amount of halite deposited in the Mid-Ordovician Majiagou Formation, and potashcontaining indication and local thin layer of potash seam were discovered in O2 m65(6 th submember, 5 th member of the Majiagou Formation). This makes ONSSB a rare Ordovician potash-containing basin in the world, and brings new hope for prospecting marine solid potash in this basin. However, several primary scientific problems, such as the coupling relationship between ONSSB and the continent nucleus, how the high-precision basement fold controls the ONSSB, and how the basement faults and relief control ONSSB, are still unclear due to the limitations of the knowledge about the basement of the Ordos Basin. This has become a barrier for understanding the potash-forming regularity in the continental nucleus(CN) area in marine salt basin in China. Up to now, the material accumulation has provided ripe conditions for the answers to these questions. Latest zircon U-Pb ages for the basement samples beneath the Ordos Basin reveal that there exists a continental nucleus(Yi-Meng CN) beneath the northern Ordos Basin. And this brings light into the fact that the ONSSB lies not overlying on the YiMeng CN but to south Yi-Meng CN. Both do not have superimposed relationship in space. And borehole penetrating into the basement reached Palaeoproterozoic meta-sedimentary rocks, which suggests the ONSSB is situated in the accretion belt of Yi-Meng CN during geological history. Basement relief beneath the ONSSB area revealed by seismic tomography and aeromagnetic anomaly confirms the existence of basement uplift and faults, which provides tectonic setting for sedimentary center migration of the ONSSB. Comparative research with various data sources indicates that the expanding strata in the ONSSB adopted the shape of the basement folds. We found that the orientations of the potash sags showed high correlation with those of several basement and sedimentary cover faults in the ONSSB. The secondary depressions are also controlled by the faults. Comparative research between all the global salt basins and continental nuclei distribution suggests that distribution of the former is controlled by the latter, and almost all the salt basins developed in or at the margin of the continental nucleus area. The nature of the tectonic basement exerts a key controlling effect on potash basin formation. And on this basis we analyzed in detail the geological conditions of salt-forming and potash-forming in the ONSSB.     

Progress in the Gondwanan Carboniferous–Permian palynology and correlation of the Nilawahan Group of the Salt Range,Pakistan: A brief review

This paper comprises of two sections. The first section describes challenges in the Carboniferous–Permian Gondwanan stratigraphic palynology, and progress in techniques such as presence of the ‘rare-marine intervals’, and ‘radiometric dating’ in some Gondwanan successions, e.g., South Africa, Australia and South America, as tools to confidently calibrate these palynozones. The second section describes developments in the palynological work on the Carboniferous–Permian Nilawahan Group of the Salt Range, Pakistan, and summarises their correlation with the coeval succession of the Gondwana continents and with the Russian/International stages.     

Distribution of Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes in Salt Lakes of the Qinghai—Xizang Plateau,China

The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is an area where a large number of salt lakes are distributed. We have collected several hundred samples of natural waters over the Plateau since 1976 and carried out researches on their hydrogen and oxygen isotopes. The results indicate that the^δD and δ¹⁸O values of the salt lake waters over the Plateau range from −64.1 to +12.4‰ and from −11.19 to +8.62‰, respectively. From the different types of surfaces, ground and lake waters of various salinities it is inferred that the compositions of H and O isotopes in the initial water of Qinghai Lake are^δD=−55.0‰ and {ie336-1}; and those in the original water from the lakes in northern Xizang, are^δD=−116.0‰ and {ie336-2}. Brines in the salt lakes are derived from rain water through prolonged circulation. Oilfield water also makes some contribution to the salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin. Similar slopes of evaporation lines of water isotopes are noticed for the Qinghai Lake area and northern Xizang. This is attributed to the evolution of the isotopes in these water bodies in an environment of middle latitude and high elevation.     

A Periglacial Palaeoenvionment in the Upper Carboniferous–Lower Permian Tobra Formation of the Salt Range, Pakistan

The Upper Carboniferous—Lower Permian(Upper Pennsylvanian-Asselian) Tobra Formation is exposed in the Salt and Trans Indus ranges of Pakistan.The formation exhibits an alluvial plain(alluvial fan-piedmont alluvial plain) facies association in the Salt Range and Khisor Range.In addition,a stream flow facies association is restricted to the eastern Salt Range.The alluvial plain facies association is comprised of clast-supported massive conglomerate(Gmc),diamictite(Dm)facies,and massive sandstone(Sm) Hthofacies whereas the stream flow-dominated alluvial plain facies association includes fine-grained sandstone and siltstone(Fss),fining upwards pebbly sandstone(Sf),and massive mudstone(Fm) Hthofacies.The lack of glacial signatures(particularly glacial grooves and striatums) in the deposits in the Tobra Formation,which are,in contrast,present in their timeequivalent and palaeogeographically nearby strata of the Arabian peninsula,e.g.the AI Khlata Formation of Oman and Unayzah B member of the Saudi Arabia,suggests a pro-to periglacial,i.e.glaciofluvial depositional setting for the Tobra Formation.The sedimentology of the Tobra Formation attests that the Salt Range,Pakistan,occupied a palaeogeographic position just beyond the maximum glacial extent during Upper Pennsylvanian-Asselian time.     

Phase Chemistry Study of the Dangxiongcuo Salt Lake Brine:Isothermal Evaporation at 25℃

正Production of lithium carbonate from brines has become the dominate trend in the world from the beginning of this century.Dangxiongcuo,a carbonate-type salt lake,is located in the interior of the Tibetan Plateau,China.As a salt lake deposit,rich in Li,B,K and other useful trace     

Assessment of the Effects of Freeze–Thaw and Salt Crystallization Ageing Tests on Anahita Temple Stone,Kangavar, West of Iran

Building stone of Anahita Temple seriously suffers from weathering due to long term freezing-thawing and salt crystallization processes. This article investigates possible changes of physical and mechanical characteristics of this stone subjected to freeze–thaw and salt crystallization ageing tests. Fresh samples obtained from the Chelmaran quarry (the main quarry supplying for Anahita Temple stone) were tested under freeze–thaw and salt crystallization experiments. The freeze–thaw and sodium sulfate salt crystallization are suggested to be the most effective factors affecting in apparent deterioration of the stone in compare to the magnesium sulfate salt crystallization test. Significant decreases in mechanical properties of the stone were observed after freeze–thaw and salt crystallization tests. However, more mechanical losses were recorded after the salt crystallization cycles than the freeze–thaw cycles. This is probably due to crystallization pressure of salt crystals in compare to ice wedging force, which promoted more development of micro-fractures in the specimens. Probably, intrinsic factors of the stone such as frequent calcite veins and stylolites, are the main factors that control the durability of Anahita Temple stone. Preferential weakening along these features during freeze–thaw and salt crystallization cycles led to physical destruction and strength loss of the stone. Based on comparison between experimentally induced damages and field observations, reasonably freeze–thaw process is major factor in weathering of Anahita Temple stone. It should be noted that recorded 102 frozen days for the region imply high destruction potential of the stone during freeze–thaw cycles.     

Study on the Production Technology of Sulfate－Potassium Magnesium from Jinaier Salt Lake Brine in Qinghai

正As a natural mineral,Potash Magnesium Sulphate fertilizer has a quite high nutrient utilization rate without affecting soil p H in long time running related to Potassium Sulphate.And to displace Potassium Sulphate with Potash     

Enclosed Extent of the Saline Water and its Constraints on the Sedimentary and Salt Forming Characteristics: A Case Study of the Paleogene Playas in?Hoh Xil Basin

正1 Introduction There is a long period of hot,arid climates in the Jurassic-Neogene,in the eastern of the Neo-Tethys where is been called Western Yunnan—Qiangtang tectonic belt(Zheng et al.,2010).Especially in the Paleogene,under the control of the planetary winds and the north subtropical high pressure belts,a ribbon arid,semi-arid     

Anthropocene Survival of Southern New England’s Salt Marshes

In southern New England, salt marshes are exceptionally vulnerable to the impacts of accelerated sea level rise. Regional rates of sea level rise have been as much as 50 % greater than the global average over past decades, a more than fourfold increase over late Holocene background values. In addition, coastal development blocks many potential marsh migration routes, and compensatory mechanisms relying on positive feedbacks between inundation and sediment deposition are insufficient to counter inundation increases in extreme low-turbidity tidal waters. Accordingly, multiple lines of evidence suggest that marsh submergence is occurring in southern New England. A combination of monitoring data, field re-surveys, radiometric dating, and analysis of peat composition have established that, beginning in the early and mid-twentieth century, the dominant low-marsh plant, Spartina alterniflora, has encroached upward in tidal marshes, and typical high-marsh plants, including Juncus gerardii and Spartina patens, have declined, providing strong evidence that vegetation changes are being driven, at least in part, by higher water levels. Additionally, aerial and satellite imagery show shoreline retreat, widening and headward extension of channels, and new and expanded interior depressions. Papers in this special section highlight changes in marsh-building processes, patterns of vegetation loss, and shifts in species composition. The final papers turn to strategies for minimizing and coping with marsh loss by managing adaptively and planning for landward marsh migration. It is hoped that this collection offers lessons that will be of use to researchers and managers on coasts where relative sea level is not yet rising as fast as in southern New England.     

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

正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     

Phase Chemistry Study of the Zabuye Salt Lake Brine:Isothermal Evaporation at 15℃ and 25℃

<正>Zabuye Salt Lake in Tibet,China is a carbonate-type salt lake,which has some unique characteristics that make it different from other types of salt lakes.The lake is at the latter period in its evolution and contains liquid and solid resources.Its brine is rich in Li,B,K and other useful minor elements that are of great economic value.We studied the concentration behavior of these elements and the crystallization paths of salts during isothermal evaporation of brine at 15℃and 25℃.The crystallization sequence of the primary salts from the brine at 25℃is halite(NaCl)→aphthitalite (3K_2SO_4·Na_2SO_4)→zabuyelite(Li_2CO_3)→trona(Na_2CO_3·NaHCO_3·2H_2O)→thermonatrite (Na_2CO_3·H_2O)→sylvite(KCl),while the sequence is halite(NaCl)→sylvite(KCl)→trona (Na_2CO_3·NaHCO_3·2H_2O)→zabuyelite(Li_2CO_3)→thermonatrite(Na_2CO_3·H_2O)→aphthitalite (3K_2SO_4·Na_2SO_4) at 15℃.They are in accordance with the metastable phase diagram of the Na~+,K~+-Cl~-, CO_3~(2-),SO_4~(2-)-H_2O quinary system at 25℃,except for Na_2CO_3·7H_2O which is replaced by trona and thermonatrite.In the 25℃experiment,zabuyelite(Li_2CO_3) was precipitated in the early stage because Li_2CO_3 is supersaturated in the brine at 25℃,in contrast with that at 15℃,it precipitated in the later stage.Potash was precipitated in the middle and late stages in both experiments,while boron was concentrated in the early and middle stages and precipitated in the late stage.     

Structural Evolution and Halokinesis of Khaje Salt Diapir,North‒West of Iran

Geotectonics - The northeastern part of the Tabriz, Khaje area has been studied to determine the relationship between the orientation of local structures and regional tectonics, and the influence...     

Features and Formation Mechanism of Faults and Potash-forming Effect in the Lop Nur Salt Lake, Xinjiang, China

1 Introduction The Lop Nur Salt Lake, located in the eastern part of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China, has become a playa in the Quaternary. It is under the jurisdiction of Ruoqiang County, Xinjiang, being ~450 km east of Korla City, the capital of the Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture (Fig. 1), and 300 km south of the seat of Shanshan County. The geographic coordinates are 90o00'–91o30' E and 39o40'– 41o20' N. Field survey and drilling since 1995 have revealed an occurren…     

Geochemistry of Brines from Salt Ore Deposits in Western Tarim Basin

In the geological evolution of the Tarim Basin, many transgressions and relictions happened. So there have been plentiful sources of salt. Moreover, because of uttermost drought, a lot of salt has been deposited. It is possible to find potash salt in this area. In our fieldwork, we have found salt and brine in western Tarim Basin. Based on a geological survey and the characteristics of sedimentary facies and paleogeography, this paper deals with the geochemical parameters and discusses the possibility of formation of potash salt in terms of the chemical analyses of samples collected from western Tarim Basin. Results of brine analysis lead to some conclusions: most of these salt brines have eluviated from very thick halite beds, mainly chloridetype salt and this kind of halite does not reach the stage of potash deposition in all aspects; WKSL (Wukeshalu) occupies a noticeable place, and we should attach importance to this district because there have been some indicators of the occurrence of potash deposits as viewed from the contents of Br and K. Finally, low Br contents are recognized in the Tarim Basin as a result of salt aggradation, and this point of view has been proved by the results of this experiment and the data available. It cannot depend upon the index of Br to judge the evolution stage of halite. We must look for other facies of potash except marine facies.