新生代以来,柴达木盆地形成了复杂的构造体系及一系列相对独立的构造、成矿单元.柴达木盆地不同的构造单元因沉积环境与成矿条件的差异,在第四系浅层盐湖区、更新统冲洪积扇区、古近系—新近系圈闭构造区等特定的时空范围形成了赋存状态、矿物组合等相对独特的矿产.对柴达木盆地盐类及地下水资源时空分布特征、成矿作用及成矿地质背景进行了归纳研究,划分了盆地盐类及地下水矿床成矿系列.以成矿系列理论为指导,结合柴达木盆地最新的勘查研究成果,对盆地演化、盐类成矿单元、矿产时空分布及成矿类型等进行梳理,将柴达木盆地盐类及地下水矿床划分为3个成矿系列、6个成矿亚系列、15个矿床式.根据矿床自然分类及矿床成矿系列"全位成矿、缺位找矿"的预测思维,提出了柴达木盆地盐类及地下水矿产的找矿方向.
Since the Cenozoic,Qaidam Basin has developed a complex tectonic system and a series of relatively independent tectonic and metallogenic units.Within specific spatiotemporal ranges including the shallow salt lake area in Quaternary,the alluvial-proluvial fan area in Pleistocene,and the trap structural area of Paleogene-Neogene,the different tectonic units in Qaidam Basin have brought minerals with relatively unique occurrence statuses and mineral compositions because of variations in the sedimentary environment and metallogenic conditions.The inductive research on the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics,mineralization,and metallogenic geological background of basin salts and groundwater resources,along with the classification of metallogenic series for basin salt and groundwater mineral deposits,holds great significance in guiding future exploration,ore prospecting,and resource development and utilization,as well as ensuring the smooth construction of a world-class salt lake industrial base.Guided by the metallogenic series theory,the basin evolution,salt metallogenic units,spatiotemporal distribution of mineral resources,and metallogenic types are systematically collated based on the latest exploration and research findings on Qaidam Basin.As a result,the salt and groundwater mineral deposits in Qaidam Basin are classified into three metallogenic series,six metallogenic sub-series,and fifteen ore deposit types.Moreover,utilizing the natural classification of deposits and the predictive mindset of inevitable mineralization in certain spatiotemporal dimensions and prospecting/research of unexplored or unpredicted deposits,the effective prospecting directions for salt and groundwater mineral deposits in Qaidam Basin are presented.