Boron Isotope Geochemistry of the Lakkor Co Salt Lake (Tibet) and Its Geological Significance

• Published in: Geofluids Vol. 2022; pp. 1 - 13
• Main Authors: Li, B. K., Cheng, H. D., Ma, H. Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester Hindawi 22.06.2022; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited; Hindawi-Wiley
• Subjects: Boron; Boron isotopes; Carbonates; Fluvial deposits; Geochemistry; Isotope geology; Isotopes; Lakes; Ophiolites; Quaternary; Rivers; Salt; Salt lakes; Surface water; France; China; Tibet; Tibetan Plateau
• ISSN: 1468-8115; 1468-8123
• DOI: 10.1155/2022/3724800

The origin of boron in modern salt lakes has long been a controversial subject. This study focuses on the boron geochemistry of Lakkor Co salt lake, located on the Shiquanhe-Lakkor Co-Yongzhu-Jiali Ophiolite Mélange Zone (SYMZ). Lakkor Co is one of the main boron-rich salt lakes in the Tibetan plateau where the boron concentration ranges from 401 to 849 mg L-1. The boron isotope value (δ11B) of the carbonate deposit within the Lakkor Co region is -28.08‰. The boron isotope value of the Somme river decreases from -9.97‰ to -11.15‰ after it flows through the carbonate deposit region, indicating that the carbonate deposit in this region releases boron, which has a more negative isotope value. However, the boron isotope value of Bai Kok river increases from -15.63‰ to -13.76‰, when it flows through the Quaternary clay region in Ganga Co, indicating that the carbonate deposit undergoes a process of boron adsorption. It can be concluded that the Quaternary carbonate deposits may be a source of boron and also serve as a temporary boron reservoir, thus playing an important role in the formation of modern salt lake boron deposits in Tibet.