Zabuye Lithium-Magnesium-Borate Deposit, Tibet

This is a large integrated salt deposit. Located in the basin on the northern side of the Gangdise Mountains in Zhongba County, Shigatse, Tibet, the Zabuye lithium-magnesium-borate deposit is a lake district. The Zabuye Chaka Lake district is divided into north and south regions. North Zabuye Lake holds water for the entire year, whereas South Zabuye Lake is saline. A calcareous gravel embankment is located between the two lakes. The eastern part of the embankment ends in the water, allowing water to flow between the two lakes. Lacustrine chemical sedimentation is widespread. The upper portion of the deposit is an ash-white coarse mirabilite layer, the middle portion is a silty borax layer, and the lower layer is a silty or carbonitic clay layer. The Zabuye Chaka Lake district is rich in solid salt minerals and also has large reserves of liquid salt minerals. In addition to boron, 50 other chemical elements, such as potassium, sodium, lithium, caesium and bromine, can be economically...