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The formation process of the Mengyejing potash deposit, Yunnan, China: evidence from geochemical and petrological characteristics

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Abstract

Two types of potash ores were sampled from the Mengyejing potash deposit (the MPD) which is the only ancient potash deposit ever found in China. Geochemical analyses, including Br, K, Mg and some heavy metals, were performed on those samples. The relatively consistent Br contents (141.42 to 763.67 ppm) in both bedded potash and veined potash ores show that the potash-forming brine was likely derived from seawater. K contents and Br/Cl ratios of the veined potash ores are relatively high in contrast to bedded potash ores. The K/Br ratios of veined potash ores exhibit a positive correlation with Br contents, which is opposite to that of the bedded potash ore of the MPD and potassium-salts from the evaporation of modern seawater. The contents of heavy metals in veined potash ores are much higher than those of bedded potash ores in the MPD and potash in other evaporite basins of the world. Sr and S isotopic compositions of these two types of potash ores suggest that the brines for precipitating veined potash were formed by mixing of connate waters (seawater or/and continental freshwater) and hydrothermal fluids. The geochemical and petrological characteristics of the veined potash ores indicate that the brine for forming veined potash orebodies caused by dissolution of previous bedded potash orebodies by hydrothermal fluids. The veined potash orebodies were formed through a cooling process by which sylvite precipitated first prior to halite.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Key Project for Basic Research of China (No. 2011CB403007), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41572067, 91855104, 41802111), and the Central Welfare Basic Scientific Research Business Expenses (Nos. KK2005 and KK2016). We thank Yufei Hu and Yongzhi Chen for analytical work. In addition, we would like to acknowledge Gong Daxing and Wang Di for their assistance in sampling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MNR Key Laboratory Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 26 Baiwanzhuang Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100037, China

    Lijian Shen & Chenglin Liu

  2. Radiogenic Isotope Facility, School of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Jian-xin Zhao & Yuexing Feng

  3. CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Key Laboratory of Continental Collision and Plateau Uplift, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Licheng Wang

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  1. Lijian Shen
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Shen, L., Liu, C., Zhao, Jx. et al. The formation process of the Mengyejing potash deposit, Yunnan, China: evidence from geochemical and petrological characteristics. Geosci J 25, 619–633 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-020-0042-7

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