Sr isotope and major ion compositional evidence for formation of Qarhan Salt Lake, western China

Abstract

Qarhan Salt Lake (QSL) is the largest potash brine deposit in the continental Qaidam Basin (QB) of western China. The origins of the Qarhan brines, whether from migration of Qaidam mega-paleolakes, paleoriver capture, or mixing of modern river water and Ca-Cl spring water, are controversial. Details about the origin (hydrothermal, diagenetic or both) of the Ca-Cl inflow waters entering QSL in the QB are unclear. Here we show from the strontium (Sr) isotope ratios of river waters, intercrystalline brines, spring waters, halite, gypsum, and Corbicula shells from Qarhan playa, that 87Sr/86Sr increases from Bieletan (western QSL) to Huobuxun (eastern QSL). This trend verifies that river water-spring water mixing has been operating at QSL for the past 50,000 years. Contributions of Ca-Cl inflow waters to the QB have profoundly influenced the brine evolution and mineralogy of salt deposits. Mixing between low Sr2+ concentration, low 87Sr/86Sr value of river waters and high Sr2+ concentration, high 87Sr/86Sr value of Ca-Cl spring inflow waters has produced various intercrystalline brines and salt deposits at QSL. Ca-Cl inflow waters and brines are enriched in Sr2+ and Ca2+ and depleted in Mg2+ and SO42−. These characteristics suggest brine-sedimentary rock (silicate) interactions at burial diagenetic or hydrothermal conditions. Ca-Cl inflow waters and brines have a similar Sr isotopic range as oilfield brines and celestite deposits in the QB, which also suggests a diagenetic-hydrothermal origin. Ca-Cl brines discharge as springs or seeps along fault zones in the QB. They are interpreted to reach the surface of the northern margin of Qarhan playa by topographically driven circulation.