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Chabyer Caka (Chabyer Co; Zhabuye Chaka; Zhabuye Cuo; Zabuye salt lake), Zhongba Co., Xigazê Prefecture (Rikaze Prefecture; Shigatse Prefecture), Tibet, Chinai
Regional Level Types
Chabyer Caka (Chabyer Co; Zhabuye Chaka; Zhabuye Cuo; Zabuye salt lake)- not defined -
Zhongba Co.County
Xigazê Prefecture (Rikaze Prefecture; Shigatse Prefecture)Prefecture
TibetAutonomous Region
ChinaCountry

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PhotosMapsSearch
02658850017272008978939.jpg
Satellite photo showing Lake Zabuye and other lakes

Chabyer Caka, Zhongba Co., Xigazê Prefecture, Tibet, China
02563020017272008988019.jpg
Zabuyelite

Chabyer Caka, Zhongba Co., Xigazê Prefecture, Tibet, China
02658850017272008978939.jpg
Satellite photo showing Lake Zabuye and other lakes

Chabyer Caka, Zhongba Co., Xigazê Prefecture, Tibet, China
02563020017272008988019.jpg
Zabuyelite

Chabyer Caka, Zhongba Co., Xigazê Prefecture, Tibet, China
02658850017272008978939.jpg
Satellite photo showing Lake Zabuye and other lakes

Chabyer Caka, Zhongba Co., Xigazê Prefecture, Tibet, China
02563020017272008988019.jpg
Zabuyelite

Chabyer Caka, Zhongba Co., Xigazê Prefecture, Tibet, China
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
31° 22' 19'' North , 84° 3' 11'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
31.37222,84.05306
GRN:
N21E52
Köppen climate type:
Dwc : Monsoon-influenced subarctic climate
Mindat Locality ID:
3257
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:3257:8
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Name(s) in local language(s):
扎布耶茶卡 (扎布耶锘), 仲巴县 (འབྲོང་པ་རྫོང་), 日喀则地区 (གཞིས་ཀ་རྩེ་ས་ཁུལ།), 西藏自治区, 中国


A large bittern-salt lake in the Gangdise Mountains in the interior of the Tibetan Plateau. The lake consists of two sub-basins, a southern and a northern one, which are joined by a narrow channel. The lake has a total area of 243 km2, a mean depth of 70 cm, and a maximum depth of less than 2 m. The salt content of the lake water is 360-410 g/l. The basin originated through faulted structures. The underlying bedrock is Cretaceous-Eogene acidic igneous rocks, mudstones and sandstones. A large area of playa is being exposed around the lake, and mirabilite is currently being deposited in the lake.

Zabuye Salt Lake covers an area of 243 km2 at an average elevation of about 4421 m. It is a semi-dry salt lake with a combination of surface brine and salt flats. Large-scale ancient travertine accumulation developed in the middle of the lake and formed a travertine island. From the travertine island as the starting point to the west, a sand embankment was formed that divides Zabuye Lake into south and north lakes, and there is a waterway connecting the two on the east side. The springs around and in the lake are relatively well developed, and those on the travertine island have the largest water inflow.

LiCl resources: 1530×103 t; LiCl grade: 632 mg/L


Note: The Tibetan name of the lake is Chabyer Caka (alternatively Chabyer Co), which becomes Zhabuye Chaka (alternatively Zhabuye Cuo) in standard Chinese phonetics. "Zabuye" is a mis-nomer (the Chinese character 扎 transliterates to "Zha", not "Za"). Nonetheless, the name of the mineral that was named for this lake is spelled "Zabuyelite", not "Zhabuyelite".

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


24 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Aphthitalite
Formula: (K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
ⓘ Aragonite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Borax
Formula: Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ Gaylussite
Formula: Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Halite
Formula: NaCl
ⓘ Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ 'Lithiomagnesite'
Formula: Li2Mg(CO3)2
ⓘ 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
ⓘ Northupite
Formula: Na3Mg(CO3)2Cl
ⓘ Orthoclase
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ 'Smectite Group'
Formula: A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
ⓘ Sylvite
Formula: KCl
ⓘ Thénardite
Formula: Na2SO4
ⓘ 'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ Trona
Formula: Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
ⓘ Ulexite
Formula: NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
ⓘ Zabuyelite (TL)
Formula: Li2CO3
Type Locality:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘHalite3.AA.20NaCl
ⓘSylvite3.AA.20KCl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘZabuyelite (TL)5.AA.05Li2CO3
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘMagnesite5.AB.05MgCO3
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘAragonite5.AB.15CaCO3
ⓘNorthupite5.BF.05Na3Mg(CO3)2Cl
ⓘTrona5.CB.15Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
ⓘGaylussite5.CB.35Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Group 6 - Borates
ⓘBorax6.DA.10Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘUlexite6.EA.25NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAphthitalite7.AC.35(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
ⓘThénardite7.AD.25Na2SO4
ⓘMirabilite7.CD.10Na2SO4 · 10H2O
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ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
ⓘOrthoclase9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'Tourmaline'-AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ'Smectite Group'-A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
ⓘ'Lithiomagnesite'-Li2Mg(CO3)2

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Hⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hⓘ TronaNa3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Hⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Hⓘ Smectite GroupA0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
LiLithium
Liⓘ ZabuyeliteLi2CO3
Liⓘ LithiomagnesiteLi2Mg(CO3)2
BBoron
Bⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Bⓘ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Bⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
CCarbon
Cⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Cⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Cⓘ NorthupiteNa3Mg(CO3)2Cl
Cⓘ TronaNa3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Cⓘ ZabuyeliteLi2CO3
Cⓘ LithiomagnesiteLi2Mg(CO3)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Aphthitalite(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
Oⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Oⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Oⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oⓘ NorthupiteNa3Mg(CO3)2Cl
Oⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
Oⓘ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Oⓘ TronaNa3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Oⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Oⓘ ZabuyeliteLi2CO3
Oⓘ Smectite GroupA0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
Oⓘ LithiomagnesiteLi2Mg(CO3)2
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ Aphthitalite(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
Naⓘ BoraxNa2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Naⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Naⓘ HaliteNaCl
Naⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Naⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Naⓘ NorthupiteNa3Mg(CO3)2Cl
Naⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
Naⓘ TronaNa3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Naⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Mgⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Mgⓘ NorthupiteNa3Mg(CO3)2Cl
Mgⓘ LithiomagnesiteLi2Mg(CO3)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
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
Alⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
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
Siⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
SSulfur
Sⓘ Aphthitalite(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ MirabiliteNa2SO4 · 10H2O
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ ThénarditeNa2SO4
ClChlorine
Clⓘ HaliteNaCl
Clⓘ NorthupiteNa3Mg(CO3)2Cl
Clⓘ SylviteKCl
KPotassium
Kⓘ Aphthitalite(K,Na)3Na(SO4)2
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Kⓘ SylviteKCl
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ GaylussiteNa2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Caⓘ UlexiteNaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
FeIron
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2

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

Li, Mingming, Mianping Zheng, Chuanyong Ye, Chenguang Wang, Xuefei Zhang, Xuefeng Wang, Yuanyi Zhao, and Yanbo Zhang. 2022. "Response of Travertine Dam to Precipitation over the Past 800 Years in Zabuye Salt Lake, Southwestern Tibetan Plateau" Minerals 12, no. 7: 916. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12070916
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).
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).
Wen Qi and Mianping Zheng (1995): Sedimentary characteristics of ZK91-2 core and climate-environment evolution of Zabuye lake, Tibet plateau. Journal of Lake Sciences 7(2), 133-140 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Yu, G., Harrison, S.P., and Xue, B. (2001): Lake status records from China: Data Base Documentation. MPI-BGC Technology Report No. 4, pp. 183-190.
Yongsheng Zhang, Mianping Zheng, Zhen Nie, and Lingzhong Bu (2005): 15°C-Isothermal Evaporation Experiment on Carbonate-type Brine from Zabuye Salt Lake, Tibet, Southwestern China. Sea-lake Salt and Chemical Industry [Yanye Yu Huagong] 34(4), 1-5.
Wen Qi and Mianping Zheng (2007): Simulation with Pitzer model of lake brine evolution of Zabuye salt lake, Tibetan plateau. Acta Geologica Sinica 81(12), 1734-1741.
Mianping Zheng, Heran Yuan, Junying Liu, Yanhe Li, Zhibang Ma, and Qing Sun (2007): Sedimentary characteristics and palaeoenvironmental records of Zabuye salt lake, Tibetan plateau, since 128 ka BP. Acta Geologica Sinica 81(12), 1608-1617 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Yuanyi Zhao, Yubin Cui, and Xitao Zhao (2010): Geological and geochemical features and significance of travertine in travertine-island from Zhabuye salt lake, Tibet, China. Geological Bulletin of China 29(1), 124-141 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Zhen Nie, Lingzhong Bu, and Mianping Zheng (2010): Lithium resources industrialization of salt lakes in China: A case study of the Xitaijinaier salt lake and the Zabuye salt lake. Acta Geoscientica Sinica 31(1), 95-101 (in Chinese with English abstract).
en.wikipedia.org (n.d.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Zabuye
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