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Salt Crystallization Sequences of Nonmarine Brine and Their Application for the Formation of Potassium Deposits

Salt Crystallization Sequences of Nonmarine Brine and Their Application for the Formation of... The salt assemblages precipitated during evaporation of concentrated brine collected from Gasikule Salt Lake (GSL) were studied to better understand the formation of potassium deposits in the Qaidam Basin. The study included isothermal evaporation at 25 °C in the laboratory and solar evaporation in the ponds at GSL field. Brines increased in density and became moderately acidic (pH ≈ 5.30) while major ion geochemistry and precipitate mineralogy all showed broad agreement between both systems. Four salt assemblages were identified in the isothermal evaporation experiment: halite → halite + hexahydrite → halite + bischofite + carnallite → bischofite. Alternately, three salt assemblages were recognized in the solar evaporation: halite → halite + epsomite + carnallite → halite + carnallite + bischofite. The key difference in salt assemblages between the two systems is attributed to differences in relative humidity and temperature conditions. Although the GSL has deep spring inflow recharge, the high abundance of MgSO4 salts demonstrates that the salt assemblages are similar to normal seawater evaporation. Thus, different proportions of deep spring inflow and river water could form both MgSO4-deficient potassium evaporite and normal seawater potassium evaporites. Therefore, nonmarine water may form diverse potassium evaporite deposits in continental basins when the geological structure as well as hydrogeological and climatic conditions is appropriate. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Aquatic Geochemistry Springer Journals

Salt Crystallization Sequences of Nonmarine Brine and Their Application for the Formation of Potassium Deposits

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References (53)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 by Springer Nature B.V.
Subject
Earth Sciences; Geochemistry; Hydrology/Water Resources; Hydrogeology; Water Quality/Water Pollution
ISSN
1380-6165
eISSN
1573-1421
DOI
10.1007/s10498-018-9340-3
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The salt assemblages precipitated during evaporation of concentrated brine collected from Gasikule Salt Lake (GSL) were studied to better understand the formation of potassium deposits in the Qaidam Basin. The study included isothermal evaporation at 25 °C in the laboratory and solar evaporation in the ponds at GSL field. Brines increased in density and became moderately acidic (pH ≈ 5.30) while major ion geochemistry and precipitate mineralogy all showed broad agreement between both systems. Four salt assemblages were identified in the isothermal evaporation experiment: halite → halite + hexahydrite → halite + bischofite + carnallite → bischofite. Alternately, three salt assemblages were recognized in the solar evaporation: halite → halite + epsomite + carnallite → halite + carnallite + bischofite. The key difference in salt assemblages between the two systems is attributed to differences in relative humidity and temperature conditions. Although the GSL has deep spring inflow recharge, the high abundance of MgSO4 salts demonstrates that the salt assemblages are similar to normal seawater evaporation. Thus, different proportions of deep spring inflow and river water could form both MgSO4-deficient potassium evaporite and normal seawater potassium evaporites. Therefore, nonmarine water may form diverse potassium evaporite deposits in continental basins when the geological structure as well as hydrogeological and climatic conditions is appropriate.

Journal

Aquatic Geochemistry – Springer Journals

Published: Jul 5, 2018

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