Potash resource Lop Nur #158 (deposit) in China

Surface crust is 20,000 sq km; potash brines are largely stored in the interstices of glauberite crystals rather than halite crystals; Luobei sub-basin is deepest part of the Lop Nur depression.

Geologic map unit

90.9, 40.75

Nearby scientific data

Find additional scientific data near this location

Economic information

Production
Status	Active Production
Estimates of reserves or resources
K₂O tonnage	152.5 tot, 61 recMillion tonnes
Data source	Tse (2009)

Reference information

References

Searls, J.P., 2003, Potash, in Metals and Minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2003, v. I, p. 58.1-58.11, accessed online April 1, 2008, at http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/potash/potasmyb03.pdf.Tse, P.-K., 2009, The mineral industry of China, in Area reports; International: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. III, p. 9.1-9.24, accessed online September 6, 2012, at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2007/myb3-2007-ch.pdf.

Wang Mili, Liu Chenglin, Jiao Pengcheng, and Yang Zhichen, 2005, Minerogenic theory of the superlarge Lop Nur potash deposit, Xinjiang, China: Acta Geologica Sinica, v. 79, no. 1, p. 53-65.

Yu, G., Harrison, S.P., and Xue, B., 2001, Lake status records from China; Data base documentation: Max-Planck-Institut fur Biogeochemie Technical Report 4, 243 p.

Zheng Mianping; Qi Wen; Wu Yushu; and Liu JJunying, 1992, Preliminary study on sedimentary environment of the Lop Nor salt lake and its prospect for potassium: Chinese Science Bulletin, v. 37, no. 11, p. 935-939.