The Formation of the Qarhan Saline Lakes as Viewed in the Light of Neotectonic Movement

Abstract

Investigations on stratigraphy, geomorphology and neotectonic movement in the Eastern Kunlun Mountains show that there existed a series of ancient lakes, including some saline lakes, in the studied region about 30,000 years ago. They were distributed south of the middle Kunlun fault, from the middle‐upper reaches of the present Narin Gol River in the west to the Alag Lake‐Tosou Lake in the east. Of these the ancient Narin Gol Lake and Kunlun Lake were mainly recharged by the hot water related to valcanos, so the B, Li and K contents are relatively high.The neotectonic movement that commenced at 30,000 a B.P. caused the river system in the Eastern Kunlun Mountains to invade southwards; as a result the ancient lake water was captured to recharge the Qarhan area. Therefore, the hot springs related to recent volcanism and faulting on the southern bank of the upper reaches of the Narin Gol River became an important source of saline materials for the Qarhan Lake.

Genesis of Neogene Formation Waters in the Central Qaidam Basin: Clues from Hydrochemistry and Stable D‐O‐S‐Sr Isotopes

“…Indeed, the Yiliping-Xitai-Dongtai salt lakes in the study area and the neighboring Qarhan Salt Lake jointly contain the largest Li brine deposits in China (Yu et al, 2013). Abundant Li and B resources are derived from hot springs in the southern slope of the Kunlun Mts, and supplied into the study area through the Nalenggele River (Zhu et al, 1990;Yu et al, 2013). The high Br concentrations can be interpreted by the leaching of the Neogene sediments.…”