Potash-prospecting Potential Analysis of Early-Middle Triassic Marine Potash in Chongqing Main Salt-Forming Basins
Chongqing region is one of important areas for the exploration of ancient marine potash deposit in China,but no significant breakthroughs have been made in this field.This paper analyzed the potential for potash formation in the salt-bearing strata of the main salt-bearing areas such as the Hechuan Salt Basin,Changshou-Dianjiang Salt Basin,Zhongxian Salt Basin,and Wanzhouqu Salt Basin.This paper systemati-cally collected the mine exploration results of Chongqing region,and some salt samples from Hechuan,Changshou and Dianjiang were obtained and tested.Results show that there are primary polyhalite minerals in the Triassic rock salt of Changshou-Dianjiang Salt Basin,with K+content reaching 3.82%.There are also primary polyhalite minerals in the rock salt samples of Hechuan Salt Basin,with K+content reaching 3.71%.In the Zhongxian Salt Basin and Wanzhouqu Salt Basin,potassium contents are low and no potas-sium minerals are present.The concentration of ancient brine in Changshou-Dianjiang Salt Basin is high,and ratios of bromine(Br)and chlorine(Cl)of most samples show that they have reached the stage of po-tassium salt mineral precipitation,followed by the Hechuan Salt Basin.The Br concentration in Zhongxian and Wanzhouqu Salt Basin is low,mainly at the stage of rock salt precipitation.The comprehensive analy-sis shows that Chongqing area has a good potassium formation conditions in the Early-Middle Triassic with hot paleoclimate and high concentration of ancient brine.The sub-depression areas in Changshou-Dianjiang Salt Basin has preferable potash-prospecting potential.