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Evaluation on liquefaction effect of potassium dissolution extraction from low-grade solid potash ore in Qarhan Salt Lake, northern of Tibetan Plateau

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Abstract

China, being the world’s largest consumer of potassium fertilizer, faces significant challenges due to limited potassium reserves. Qarhan Salt Lake stands out as a reservoir containing 296 million tons of low-grade solid potash ore (KCl), establishing itself as the premier potassium fertilizer production base in China. The extraction of low-grade solid potash ore via liquefaction technology, leading to the generation of potassium-rich brine, emerges as a pivotal strategy for sustainable potash exploitation in the region. This approach offers a promising solution to mitigate the potassium salt shortage in China. This paper systematically examines the transformation in KCl content of solid potash ore within the Bieletan section of Qarhan Salt Lake before (2007) and after liquefaction (2022). The study employs quantitative assessments to determine liquefaction volume and efficiency. Results reveal that, at a shallow depth of 23.20m, the average KCl content of solid potash ore decreases from 2.15% before liquefaction to 1.00% after liquefaction. This observed decrease of 1.15% (53% reduction) underscores the substantial impact of liquefaction. A total of 136.94 million tons of KCl are dissolved, providing a sustainable resource for approximately 15 years or more. During the initial stages of liquefaction (2007–2008), a rapid decline in the KCl content of solid potash ore is noted, with liquefaction efficiency significantly influenced by the positioning of the brine mining channel. As liquefaction progresses, efficiency diminishes, although the overall efficiency surpasses that of the Huobuxun section at the eastern extremity of Qarhan Salt Lake. This study holds significant implications for refining the solid potash liquefaction mining strategy in Qarhan Salt Lake, providing valuable guidance for future optimization efforts.

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(Source: United States Geological Survey)

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(Modified from Fan, 2015)

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(Modified from Yuan et al. 1995)

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Data availability

The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the QingHai Salt Lake Industry Co.,Ltd (HE2205, HE2206).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yachao Song & Han Hu

  2. Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China

    Chuanyong Ye, Yuanyi Zhao & Lichun Ma

  3. Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co., Ltd, Qinghai, 816000, China

    Juan Zhang, Qunxiong Yan & Yuhan Lin

Authors
  1. Yachao Song
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  2. Han Hu
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  6. Juan Zhang
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  7. Qunxiong Yan
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  8. Yuhan Lin
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Materials were prepared and data were collected by Y S and H H and C Y performed the literature search. The various analyses were performed by all the authors. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Y S and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chuanyong Ye or Lichun Ma.

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Song, Y., Hu, H., Ye, C. et al. Evaluation on liquefaction effect of potassium dissolution extraction from low-grade solid potash ore in Qarhan Salt Lake, northern of Tibetan Plateau. Carbonates Evaporites 39, 56 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-024-00961-6

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