Origin of Boron in the Gas Hure Salt Lake of Northwestern Qaidam Basin, China: Evidence from Hydrochemistry and Boron Isotopes
Corresponding Author
Jibin HAN
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJianxin XU
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Search for more papers by this authorSyed Asim HUSSAIN
Department of Earth Sciences, Karakoram International University, Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, 15100 Pakistan
Search for more papers by this authorHongchen JIANG
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074 China
Search for more papers by this authorYunqi MA
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Search for more papers by this authorKai XU
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Search for more papers by this authorHaizhou MA
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jibin HAN
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJianxin XU
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Search for more papers by this authorSyed Asim HUSSAIN
Department of Earth Sciences, Karakoram International University, Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, 15100 Pakistan
Search for more papers by this authorHongchen JIANG
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074 China
Search for more papers by this authorYunqi MA
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Search for more papers by this authorKai XU
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Search for more papers by this authorHaizhou MA
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008 China
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Xining, 810008 China
Search for more papers by this authorAbout the first and corresponding author:
HAN Jibin, male, born in 1985 in Xining City, Qinghai Province; Ph.D; graduated from China University of Geosciences; research assistant of Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is now interested in study on hydrochemistry and hydrology process of salt lake area. E-mail: [email protected]; phone: +18997051664
Abstract
The Gas Hure Salt Lake (GHSL) in the northwestern Qaidam Basin, western China, is rich in boron (B) resources, but its B-resource origin is hardly known. Hydrochemical compositions and B isotope characteristics of different waters were collected around the GHSL, including the river water, stream water, spring water, salt-lake brine, intercrystalline brine, well water, drilling brine, and solar pond brine. The hydrochemical signatures suggest that silicates, carbonates and evaporates are the main B-bearing rocks during the water dynamic. The reservoir estimation of B resources shows that the Kulamulekesay River (KLMR) and the Atekan River (ATKR) contribute annually 18.3 tons and 22.84 tons of B, respectively, with a total amount of 11.72 × 104 tons of B during the past 5.7 ka. In comparison with the known B reservoir (32.96 × 104 tons) in the GHSL, a significant amount of B in the GHSL was probably recharged from deep fluids and sediments around the GHSL. The B concentration and B-enrichment degree are shaped by the evaporation process, which are highly elevated at the carnallite and bischofite stages.
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