Salt Lake Exploitation
Salt Lakes have been 'harvested' for salt by Tibetans for centuries. Now, under Chinese direction, they are being exploited on a massive scale and for many other products—including Lithium, used in batteries for hi-tech devices.
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 Exploiting Tibet's Resources |
 31 23 24 N, 84 01 48 E Zhabuye Salt Lake, Shigatse Prefecture, TAR Altitude: 4400 metres Zhabuye Salt Lake is exploited for a variety of salts. It is known for Lithium in particular. Lithium is an element used in batteries for hi-tech electronic devices. |
 32 34 57 N, 82 26 06 E Zhacang Caka, TAR — Potassium, Boron, Borates, Gypsum, Magnesite, Halite. Zhacang Caka is not yet as developed as many other salt lakes. It is in a remote area 200 kilometres northwest of Zhabuye Salt Lake. |
 36 50 40 N, 95 13 48 E Qarhan Salt Lakes, Qinghai — Potassium, Bromine, Halite, Gypsum. Qarhan is a large, well-developed salt lake 50 kilometres north of Golmud. It is one of many in the Qaidam Basin. |
 37 50 31 N, 95 13 21 E Da Qaidam Salt Lake, Qinghai — Lithium, Potassium, Boron, Borates, Gypsum, Magnesite, Halite. Da Qaidam Salt Lake has been exploited for its minerals since the 1950s. The angular pools shown in this GE image are used to concentrate the salts before they are shipped out. |
 37 39 41 N, 93 28 42 E West Taijinar Salt Lake, Qinghai — Lithium, Boron, Borates. In the image you can see the shallow lake, and rectangular pools for processing the salts. At the bottom right corner and across the center, you can see one of the source rivers of West Taijinar Salt Lake. |