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Chagcam Caka (Zhacang Chaka), Gê'gyai Co. (Geji Co.), Ngari, Tibet, Chinai
Regional Level Types
Chagcam Caka (Zhacang Chaka)- not defined -
Gê'gyai Co. (Geji Co.)County
NgariPrefecture
TibetAutonomous Region
ChinaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
32° 34' 28'' North , 82° 22' 30'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
32.57472,82.37500
GeoHash:
G#: tvf966p9s
GRN:
N22E50
Köppen climate type:
Dwc : Monsoon-influenced subarctic climate
Mindat Locality ID:
135335
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:135335:1
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Name(s) in local language(s):
扎仓茶卡, 革吉县 (དགེ་རྒྱས་རྫོང་), 阿里地区 (མངའ་རིས་ས་ཁུལ་), 西藏自治区, 中国


A large playa basin in the interior part of the Tibetan Plateau. There are three salt lakes (Lakes I, II and III) within this area, with areas between 23km2 and 58km2, and depths of 30cm to 2m. The lakes are separated by terraces, whose origin is unclear although, as they consist of lacustrine carbonate deposits, they probably are relicts of a formerly extensive lake in the basin. All three lakes are hypersaline. The salt content of Lake II, for example, is close to 300 g/l. The modern lake deposits are mirabilite-mud or marl in water depths of 1m - 2m, muddy or clayey halite in water depths of 0.5m - 1m, and halite in water depths < 0.5m. The Zhacang Caka basin originated through faulting, but there is no evidence of recent tectonism. The underlying bedrocks are Mesozoic sandstone and granite.

LiCl resources: 28×103 t; LiCl grade: 807 mg/L

Note:
The grid reference is centered on the middle lake.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


26 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anhydrite
Formula: CaSO4
ⓘ Aphthitalite
Formula: (K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
ⓘ Aragonite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Borax
Formula: Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Epsomite
Formula: MgSO4 · 7H2O
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Halite
Formula: NaCl
ⓘ Hydroglauberite
Formula: Na10Ca3(SO4)8 · 6H2O
ⓘ Hydrohalite
Formula: NaCl · 2H2O
ⓘ Hydromagnesite
Formula: Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
ⓘ Inderite
Formula: MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
ⓘ Inyoite
Formula: Ca(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
ⓘ Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Kurgantaite
Formula: CaSr[B5O9]Cl · H2O
ⓘ Kurnakovite
Formula: MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
ⓘ Magnesite
Formula: MgCO3
ⓘ Mirabilite
Formula: Na2SO4 · 10H2O
ⓘ Montmorillonite
Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite
Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ Picromerite
Formula: K2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O
ⓘ Pinnoite
Formula: Mg[B2O(OH)6]
ⓘ Syngenite
Formula: K2Ca(SO4)2 · H2O
ⓘ Thénardite
Formula: Na2SO4
ⓘ Ulexite
Formula: NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 3 - Halides
ⓘHalite3.AA.20NaCl
ⓘHydrohalite3.BA.05NaCl · 2H2O
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘMagnesite5.AB.05MgCO3
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘAragonite5.AB.15CaCO3
ⓘHydromagnesite5.DA.05Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Group 6 - Borates
ⓘPinnoite6.BB.05Mg[B2O(OH)6]
ⓘInderite6.CA.15MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
ⓘKurnakovite6.CA.20MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
ⓘInyoite6.CA.35Ca(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
ⓘBorax6.DA.10Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘUlexite6.EA.25NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
ⓘKurgantaite6.ED.05CaSr[B5O9]Cl · H2O
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAphthitalite7.AC.35(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
ⓘThénardite7.AD.25Na2SO4
ⓘAnhydrite7.AD.30CaSO4
ⓘEpsomite7.CB.40MgSO4 · 7H2O
ⓘPicromerite7.CC.60K2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O
ⓘMirabilite7.CD.10Na2SO4 · 10H2O
ⓘHydroglauberite7.CD.20Na10Ca3(SO4)8 · 6H2O
ⓘSyngenite7.CD.35K2Ca(SO4)2 · H2O
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘMuscovite
var. Illite		9.EC.15K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘMontmorillonite9.EC.40(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘKaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Hⓘ EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2O
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ HydroglauberiteNa10Ca3(SO4)8 · 6H2O
Hⓘ HydrohaliteNaCl · 2H2O
Hⓘ HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Hⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Hⓘ InderiteMgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
Hⓘ InyoiteCa(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
Hⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ KurnakoviteMgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
Hⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hⓘ PicromeriteK2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O
Hⓘ PinnoiteMg[B2O(OH)6]
Hⓘ SyngeniteK2Ca(SO4)2 · H2O
Hⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Hⓘ KurgantaiteCaSr[B5O9]Cl · H2O
BBoron
Bⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Bⓘ InderiteMgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
Bⓘ InyoiteCa(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
Bⓘ KurnakoviteMgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
Bⓘ PinnoiteMg[B2O(OH)6]
Bⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Bⓘ KurgantaiteCaSr[B5O9]Cl · H2O
CCarbon
Cⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Cⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Oⓘ Aphthitalite(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
Oⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Oⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2O
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ HydroglauberiteNa10Ca3(SO4)8 · 6H2O
Oⓘ HydrohaliteNaCl · 2H2O
Oⓘ HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Oⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Oⓘ InderiteMgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
Oⓘ InyoiteCa(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
Oⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ KurnakoviteMgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
Oⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Oⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oⓘ PicromeriteK2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O
Oⓘ PinnoiteMg[B2O(OH)6]
Oⓘ SyngeniteK2Ca(SO4)2 · H2O
Oⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
Oⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Oⓘ KurgantaiteCaSr[B5O9]Cl · H2O
NaSodium
Naⓘ Aphthitalite(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
Naⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Naⓘ HaliteNaCl
Naⓘ HydroglauberiteNa10Ca3(SO4)8 · 6H2O
Naⓘ HydrohaliteNaCl · 2H2O
Naⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Naⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Naⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
Naⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2O
Mgⓘ HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Mgⓘ InderiteMgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
Mgⓘ KurnakoviteMgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O
Mgⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Mgⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Mgⓘ PicromeriteK2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O
Mgⓘ PinnoiteMg[B2O(OH)6]
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Alⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Siⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
SSulfur
Sⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Sⓘ Aphthitalite(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
Sⓘ EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2O
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ HydroglauberiteNa10Ca3(SO4)8 · 6H2O
Sⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Sⓘ PicromeriteK2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O
Sⓘ SyngeniteK2Ca(SO4)2 · H2O
Sⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
ClChlorine
Clⓘ HaliteNaCl
Clⓘ HydrohaliteNaCl · 2H2O
Clⓘ KurgantaiteCaSr[B5O9]Cl · H2O
KPotassium
Kⓘ Aphthitalite(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ PicromeriteK2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O
Kⓘ SyngeniteK2Ca(SO4)2 · H2O
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Caⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ HydroglauberiteNa10Ca3(SO4)8 · 6H2O
Caⓘ InyoiteCa(H4B3O7)(OH) · 4H2O
Caⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Caⓘ SyngeniteK2Ca(SO4)2 · H2O
Caⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Caⓘ KurgantaiteCaSr[B5O9]Cl · H2O
SrStrontium
Srⓘ KurgantaiteCaSr[B5O9]Cl · H2O

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AsiaContinent
China
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Xiyu Zheng and Shengsong Yu (1981): Formation of the salt lakes resources and its utiliztation on the Xizang plateau. Scientia Geographica Sinica 1(1), 66-76 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Mianping Zheng and Wengao Liu (1982): The discovery of a lithium-rich magnesian borate deposit in Xizang (Tibet). Geological Review 28(3), 263-266.
Zheng Xiyu (1984): Distribution characteristics of boron and lithium in brine of Zhacang Caka salt lake, Xizang (Tibet), China. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology 2(2), 218-226.
Chang Xu (1985): Primary study of clay minerals and its significance in salt lake sediments of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Scientia Geologica Sinica 1(1), 87-96 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Shaoxiu, Yang (1991) Saline Deposits And Minerals Of Salt Lakes In Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Journal of Lake Sciences, 3 (1). 1-10 doi:10.18307/1991.0101
Xiyu Zheng (1994): Comprehensive utilization of salt lake resources over Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) plateau. Journal of Lake Sciences 6(3), 267-275 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Liangkun Chen (1996): Tibet Zhacangchaka's Boromagnesite and Utilization. Industrial Minerals and Processing 25(3).
Yu, G., Harrison, S.P., and Xue, B. (2001): Lake status records from China: Data Base Documentation. MPI-BGC Technology Report No. 4, pp. 191-195.
Qingzhong Wang, Yingkai Xiao, Chonggeng Zhang, Haizhen Wei, and Zhiqi Zhao (2001): Boron isotopic compositions of some boron minerals in Qinghai and Tibet. Bulletin of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry 20(4), 344-366 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Wenzhi Li, Mianping Zheng, and Yuanyi Zhao (2004): The status and suggestions on the exploitation and application of magnesium-borate minerals in Tibet. Resources & Industries 6(5), 33-37 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Mianping Zheng, Heran Yuan, Xitao Zhao, and Xifang Liu (2006): The Quaternary Pan-lake (Overflow) Period and Paleoclimate on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Acta Geologica Sinica 80(2), 169-180 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Mianping Zheng and Xifang Liu (2010): Hydrochemistry and minerals assemblages of salt lakes in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China. Acta Geologica Sinica 84(11), 1585-1600 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Xifang Liu and Mianping Zheng (2010): Geological Features and Metallogenic Mechanism of the Nie'er Co Magnesium Borate Deposit, Tibet. Acta Geologica Sinica 84(11), 1601-1612 (in Chinese with English abstract).
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