Balunmahai Basin, Qaidam Basin (Chaidan Basin; Tsaidam Basin), Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, Chinai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Balunmahai Basin | Basin |
| Qaidam Basin (Chaidan Basin; Tsaidam Basin) | Basin |
| Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture | Prefecture |
| Qinghai | Province |
| China | Country |
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Type:
Balunmahai, is located within the Mahai Basin and has stratigraphic, structural, and sedimentary characteristics similar to those of the basin. Within the Balunmahai, the deposition of clay layers, halite, potash, and brine is predominantly controlled by the F2 and F3 faults, with brine deposits being particularly influenced by fault activity. These faults play crucial roles in fluid migration and significantly affect the composition and rare element enrichment of clay minerals.
The Balunmahai brines have long been an important source for potash production in China. They are rich in valuable elements, including potassium (640–38400 ppm), lithium (2–68 ppm), boron (B2O3, 12–1511 ppm), and magnesium (486–88177 ppm). The hydrochemical type has been classified as magnesium sulfate-type (Mg-SO4) and chloride-type. The northern area is characterized by magnesium sulfate-type water, whereas the southern area is dominated by chloride-type water. The lithium (Li) content in the clay layers ranges from 32.4 to 74.7 ppm, which exceeds the background values for the northern Qaidam region (17.6 ppm), the surrounding areas of Qaidam (21.54 ppm), and the provincial average (30 ppm).
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
9 valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' |
| ⓘ Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Halite Formula: NaCl |
| ⓘ Montmorillonite Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| ⓘ Orthoclase Formula: K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Halite | 3.AA.20 | NaCl |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Muscovite var. Illite | 9.EC.15 | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| ⓘ | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | |
| ⓘ | Montmorillonite | 9.EC.40 | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Orthoclase | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Halite | NaCl |
| Na | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Halite | NaCl |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Fossils
This region is too big or complex to display the fossil list, try looking at smaller subregions.Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect
AsiaContinent
China
- East Kunlun Metallogenic BeltMineral Belt
- Qaidam Li Mineral BeltMineral Belt
- Qilian Metallogenic BeltMineral Belt
- Qilian MountainsMountain Range
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
- Kunlun/South Qilian Fold BeltVolcanic Arc
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