Premium
Origin of Boron in the Gas Hure Salt Lake of Northwestern Qaidam Basin, China: Evidence from Hydrochemistry and Boron Isotopes
Author(s) -
HAN Jibin,
XU Jianxin,
HUSSAIN Syed Asim,
JIANG Hongchen,
MA Yunqi,
XU Kai,
MA Haizhou
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta geologica sinica ‐ english edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1000-9515
DOI - 10.1111/1755-6724.14377
Subject(s) - brine , geology , geochemistry , salt lake , evaporite , hydrology (agriculture) , structural basin , sedimentary rock , geomorphology , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
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 × 10 4 tons of B during the past 5.7 ka. In comparison with the known B reservoir (32.96 × 10 4 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.