At present,Qarhan salt lake is the largest potash producing area in China.
Based on the principle that
mineral composition in potash deposits could determine potassium mining process, and that chemical composition could determine potassium-rich layers and estimate the amount of K resources, mineral composition, chemical composition and physical parameters of solid potash strata were studied by analyzing the samples from the field of Bieletan section and Qarhan section in Qarhan salt lake. Results show that the characteristics are as following: the main potassium mineral from Bieletan is polyhalite, and crystals of salt minerals are shaped perfectly and arranged closely, which indicates that the middle phase of liquefaction is available,and the resource quantity is about 250 million tons above the 22.42 m in Bieletan section, and there are five main occurrence layers for 0-0.4 m, 2.9-8.1 m, 8.90-9.70 m, 11.4-12.4 m and 15.99-16.33 m,respectively; the main potassium minerals are carnallite, and crystals of salt minerals are loosely arranged, which indicates that the last phase of liquefaction is available, and the average concentration of KCl is 1.68% above the 3.55 m, and the main layer of potash is located above 60 cm, the resource quantity is about 89 million tons above the 3.55 m in Qarhan salt lake except Bieletan section. The research provides new data for the further research and the exploitation of solid potash.
