Lithostratigraphy, mineralogy and the boron-bearing brine evolution of DaQaidam Salt Lake in Qaidam Basin since Holocene period, northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Abstract

Little attention has been paid to the study of sedimentary records from DaQaidam Salt Lake regarding brine evolution and hydro-climate change. Here we report the results of AMS 14C dating and mineralogical investigation on a sediment profile D4 from the south central of perennial saline water-body. The result revealed that pinnoite deposit in the lakebed was formed in early Holocene, the lake underwent three stages of lake-level and brine evolution in Holocene period, which were determined mainly by precipitation-controlled catchment inflow. The mineralogical records also depicted fluctuations in lake level and hydrochemistry on decadal and centennial scales.