Progress and Prospects of Salt Lake Research in China

摘要: China has unique salt lake resources, and they are distributed in the east of Eurasian subzone Northern Hemisphere Salt Lake Zone, mainly concentrated regions with modern mean annual precipitation lower than 500 mm. This paper preliminarily reviews progress made research for past 60 years. In Paleoclimate paleoenvironment from sediments, a series salts have been proposed to be indicators paleoclimate, well accepted by scholars. The chloride-sulfate depositional west Qaidam Tarim revealed drought center since Quaternary, more 6 spreading stages arid climate (salt forming) identified. Five pan-lake periods highstands proved exist during late Quaternary on Tibetan Plateau. mineral resource prospecting theories forming deposits: atlas (1:2500000) hydrochemical zoning lakes Plateau compiled first time, revealing zonal distribution transition carbonate type chloride south north presenting corresponding assemblages different lakes; several large continental deposits discovered theory potash deposition developed, including deep basins surrounded high mountains, multistage evolution through chains moderate or shallow multilevels, origin potassium rich brines gravel layers, inheriting ancient deposits, thus establishing framework “Continental Potash Deposition Theory”; new types Mg-borate discovered, ulexite pinnoite bed Da Lake, Qinghai, kurnakovite Chagcam Caka, Tibet, Nyer, model borate cooling dissolution boron was based principles geology, physics chemistry. anti-floatation-cold crystallization method developed independently improved capacity KCl production 3 million tons per year Qarham, serving famous brand fertilizer products. One 1.2 ton K-sulfate Une, biggest world, built Lop Nor, about 1.6 produced 2015. Supported technology, Le. brine preparation winter-cooling-solarization-isolation-lithium gradient solar pond” highest lithium base at Zabuye (4421 m), established, which is that reaches 5000 carbonate. concept agriculture (Salt land agriculture) established mass growth Dunaliella other bacillus-algae occurrence various halophytes saltmarsh saline-alkali lands, finding way increase arable lands develop related green industry environments. Finally this presents some thoughts further development science, science technology will facilitate maturing interdisciplinary “Salinology”.