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Arid Land Geography >

2025 , Vol. 48 >Issue 2: 247 - 256

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.288

Earth Surface Process

Isotopic characteristics of carbonate in salt lakes in the hinterland of Badain Jaran Desert and its environmental significance

  • LI Quancong ,
  • LEI Guoliang ,
  • ZHAO Hui ,
  • ZHU Yun ,
  • SUN Wanting ,
  • YU Yuan ,
  • JIANG Geping
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  • 1. Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, Fujian, China
    2. School of Geographical Science and School of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, Fujian, China
    3. Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, Fujian, China
    4. Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China

Received date: 2024-05-09

  Revised date: 2024-10-12

  Online published: 2025-02-25

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Abstract

The formation of lake carbonate is closely associated with the physical and chemical properties of lake water and the climatic environment, serving as an essential carrier of lake environmental information. This study examines two types of carbonates (tufa and lake sediment carbonate) from six lakes in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert, Inner Mongolia, China. The precipitation processes of these carbonates and their environmental implications were analyzed using stable carbon, oxygen, and clumped isotope (Δ47) indices. The results indicate the following: (1) The carbon and oxygen isotope characteristics of tufas and lake sediment carbonates from the six lakes differ significantly, with the oxygen isotope values of tufa deposits being notably more negative than those of lake sediment carbonates. (2) The clumped isotope temperatures [T(Δ47)] of lake sediment carbonates are consistent and approximate the regional summer temperature, whereas the T(Δ47) of tufas are lower. (3) Based on oxygen isotope values and T(Δ47), the estimated δ18O composition of the water in which the tufas precipitated suggests that the tufas capture a mixed signal from spring water and lake water. These findings provide preliminary insights into the environmental significance of salt lake carbonates in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert and offer data to support long-term investigations into the hydrological evolution of desert lakes.

Key words： lake sediment carbonate; tufa; clumped isotope; Badain Jaran Desert

Cite this article

LI Quancong , LEI Guoliang , ZHAO Hui , ZHU Yun , SUN Wanting , YU Yuan , JIANG Geping . Isotopic characteristics of carbonate in salt lakes in the hinterland of Badain Jaran Desert and its environmental significance[J]. Arid Land Geography, 2025 , 48(2) : 247 -256 . DOI: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.288

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