Saline Lakes and Salt Basin Deposits in China - Selected works of Zheng Mianping

Saline Lakes and Salt  Basin Deposits in China, 23 papers selected in the book.

1．1．1    Introduction
Saline lakes are an important type of lake，v／z．one where water—bodies contain a relatively high conCentra—tion of dissolved salts．According to recent advances in the study of saline lake geology，bi010gV and 0therfields，I suggest that the lower limit of salinity for saline lakes sensbl stricto be defined as〉3．5％，while that forsaline lakes segisH lato〉~O．30％or in excess of 3 g．1’（Williams，1996）．Saline lakes can contain important raWmaterials for industry，agriculture，and medicine，e．g。halite，mirabilite，lithium，magnesium，boron．gypsumcalcium chloride，tungsten，cesium，rubidium，strontium，hydromagnesite and zeolite．Considerable amOuntS ofbiological resources，such as halophilic algae，Artemia，Spirulina，of economic and scientific value．OCCur insaline lakes．Moreover，saline lakes are important for tourism．The heat—storing features of lake brine S0larevaporation ponds have also been used in electricity．Finally，saline lakes are sensitive indicators of the pastand important for reconstructing paleoclimatic，paleoenvironmental and tectonic events．
1．1．2  Trends of scientific and technological development
If we consider that research on saline lakes started from an analysis of the brines of the Karabugaz Lag00n inthe mid．nieenth century，saline lake research has experienced three stages．The first stage lasted from themiddle of the nieenth to the beginning of the twentieth century（the Van—t Hoff school and N．S。Kumak0Vsch001）．Research during this period was dominated by physical．chemical analysis．The second Stage．from theearly．twentieth century to the 1 960s，can be referred to as the stage of traditional geological，biological andchemical disciplinary research．Since the 1 970s，research on saline lakes has developed into a sta巨e with mul一tidisciplinary research（Matter andtucker，1978；Kushner，1978；Eugster and Hardie，1978：Smith，1979：Brock，1979；Dietor，1979；Gwynn，1980；Nissenbaum，1980；Borowitzka et a1．，1981：Hammer．1981：Wil—liams，1 98 1；Yuan，1 982；Javor，1 989；Hurlbert，1 993；Zheng，1 995，1 996；Oren，1 999）．
1．Development and expansion ofthe scope ofresearch on saline lakes
Saline lakes are valuable natural resources．With continued reconnaissance，exploration and devel—opment of their resources，research on them has deepened and its scope expanded，with progress in ex—perimental studies of their values and uses．The concept of saline lakes as mainly solid mineral reS0urceShas been outdated．Large amounts of important raw materials for the chemical industry，agriculture、metallurgical industry and medicine are now obtained from saline lakes．In some brines，biological re—sources are present in large amounts．In addition，the heat—storing features of saline lake brines havebeen used in“solar energy salt pond”electricity and playas have been used to build highways．

Introduction
Chapter 1  Thoughts on Salinology and Saline Systems Research
1．1  On Salinology
1．1．1  Introduction
1．1．2  Trends ofscientific andtechnological development
1．1．3  Salinology
1．2  Expansion of Salt Science--Thoughts on Saline Systems Research
1．3  Salinology：Research and Prospects
l．3．1  A review ofresearch and utilization ofsaline 1akes
1．3．2  Salinology and great saline lake industry．
1．3．3  Investigationofsaltresourcesandprospectsofsalinology
1．3．4  Conclusions
1．4 A Comparative Analysis of Evaporate Sediments on Earth and Mars：Implications for the
Climate Change on Mars
1．4．1  Introduction
1．4．2  Observations ofMa~ian salts
1．4．3  7he formation ofevaporate salts on Mars
1．4．4  Primary discussion on the evolution of Martian atmosphere indicated by the evaporate salts
1．4．5  Potential potassium salts deposits on Mars
1．4．6  Future WOrks
References
Chapter 2  Chinese Saline Lakes and Their Resources
2．1  On Chinese Saline Lakes
2．1．1  Introduction
2．1．2  Salt lake regions
2．1．3  Chemical typology
2．1．4  Palaeolimnology
2．1．5  Halophilic organisms andbiological mincral。gcsis
2．2  On Saline Lakes in Xizang（Tibet），China
2．2．1  Origin oflake basins and classification oflake systems
2．2．2  Lake basin evolution and salt sedimentary cycles
2．2．3  Chemical types ofsalt—lake water and their distribution
2．2．4  Source ofmineral materials
2．3  Hydrochemistry ofSalt Lakes of the Qinghai—Tibet Plateau．China
2．3．1  Introduction
2．3．2  Salinities and pH values ofsalt lake brine
2 3．3  Hydrochemical types ofbrine
2．3．4  Hydrochemical zoning and mineral assemblages of salt lakes on the Qinghai—Tibet plateau
Chapter 3  Saline Lakes Deposition and Palaeoelimate
3.1  Salt Lake Sediments as Indicators for Palaeoclimates
3.1.1  Introduction
3.1.2  Saline sediments as climatic indicators
3.1.3  Zoning of hydrochemical types of saline lake waters and their response to the climates
3.2  Palaeoclimate Events and the Quaternary Salt Deposits in China
3.3  Trend of Salt Lake Changes in the Background of Global Warning and Tactics for Adaptation to the Changes
3.3.1  Introduction
3.3.2  Case histories of geological hazards in the salt lake areas
3.3.3  Analysis of rising and shrinking of salt lake water in western China
3.3.4  Some suggestions for adaptation to the changes of salt lakes
3.3.5  Conclusions
3.4  Evidence of the Pan-Lake Stage in the Period of 40-28 ka BP on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
3.4.1  Palaeoclimatic evolution of the pan-lake stage in the period of 40-28 ka BP
3.4.2  Palaeoclimatic analysis
3.5  The Quaternary Pan-lake (Overflow) Period and Paleoclimate on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
3.5.1  Introduction
3.5.2  Evidence of Quaternary pan-lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau
3.5.3  Timing and extent of high lake levels of pan-lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau
3.5.4  Pan-lakes and paleoclimate on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau
3.5.5  Conclusions
3.6  Sedimentary Characteristics and Palaeoenvironmental Records of Zabuye Salt Lake, Tibetan Plateau, since 128 ka BP
3.6.1  Introduction
3.6.2  Natural environment and geology of the study area
3.6.3  Brief account of hole SZK02
3.6.4  Chronology of lacustrine sediments
3.6.5  Sedimentary features
3.6.6  Oxygen isotope study
3.6.7  Discussion and conclusions
3.7   Carbon and Oxygen Stable Isotope Values and Microfossils at 41.4-4.5 ka BP,
in Tai Co, Tibet, China, and Their Paleoclimatic Significance
3.7.1  Introduction
3.7.2  Regional setting
3.7.3  Sedimentary characteristics of the sections
3.7.4  Chronological study
3.7.5  Carbon and oxygen stable isotope features of P1
3.7.6  Conclusions
3.8  Some Characteristics of Stratigraphic Sequences and Lacustrine Sediments of Main Quaternary
Lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
3.8.1  Introduction
3.8.2  Quaternary lacustrine stratigraphic areas of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau
3.8.3  Division of Quaternary lacustrine sequences of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau
3.8.4  Brief description of stratigraphic sequences of Quaternary stratigraphic areas of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau
3.8.5  Several characteristics of Quaternary lacustrine sediments on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau
3.8.6  Conclusions
3.9  Lake Basin Evolution and Palteau Uplfting
3.9.1  Evolution stage of lake basins on Qinghai-Xizang plateau
3.9.2  Time of large-scale uplifting of Qinghai-Xizang plateau
3.9.3  Uplift form of Qinghai-Xizang plateau
References
Chapter 4  Saline Lake Geoecology and "Saline Lake Agriculture"
4.1  Preliminary Study on the Geoecology of Halopholic Algae and Halobacteria Found in Zabuye Salt Lake, Xizang (Tibet)
4.1.1  Physiographic condition
4.1.2  The composition of halobacteria and halophilic algae
4.1.3  Geological condition and its signification
4.1.4  Conclusions
4.2  On "Saline Lake Agriculture"
4.2.1  Introduction
4.2.2  Some organisms in saline lake that have been commercialized or
have economic and scientific significance--resources of "saline lake agriculture"
4.2.3  Concept and character of"saline lake agriculture"
4.2.4  The importance of developing "saline lake agriculture"
4.2.5  Research contents of"saline lake agriculture"
4.2.6  Conclusions
4.3  Biological Investigation of Salt Lakes in Tibet
4.4  Salt Lake Resources and Eco-environmental Protection in China
4.4.1  Introduction
4.4.2  Distribution of salt lakes and brief account of salt lake resources in China
4.4.3  Present situation of exploitation and utilization of salt lake resources and environmental problems
4.4.4  Rational utilization of resources and protection of the eco-environment in salt lake regions
4.4.5  Conclusions
References
Chapter 5  Distribution of Salt Basins and Potash Exploration in China as well as New Understanding and Progresses
5.1  Regional Distribution and Prospects of Potash in China
5.1.1  Introduction
5.1.2  Regional geological setting of salt and potash formation in China
5.1.3  Characteristics of major salt-forming basins and analysis of potash-forming conditions
5.1.4  Analysis of potash prospects
5.1.5  Conclusions
5.2  Potash Exploration Characteristics in China: New Understanding and Research Progress
5.2.1  Introduction
5.2.2  Regional geological setting of salt formation in China
5.2.3  New understanding and research progress in potash exploring in China
5.3  A New View Concerning the Formation of the Mengyejing Potash Deposit in Jiangcheng,Yunnan, China
5.3.1  Introduction
5.3.2  Characteristics of salt-bearing strata and potassium-bearing sequences
5.3.3  Jurassic salt-and potash-forming environments
5.3.4  New view of potash deposit formation
5.3.5  Preliminary analysis of the mechanism of potash formation
5.3.6  Conclusions
5.4  Preliminary Study on Sedimentary Environment of the Lop Nor Salt Lake and Its Prospect for Potassium
5.4.1  Division of salt sedimentary phases
5.4.2  Depositional environment
5.4.3  Preliminary discussion on perspective in search for potassium
References