Bangkog Lake is a salt lake in the interior part of the Tibetan Plateau. It consists of three sub-basins (called Lakes I, II and III) joined by narrow channels. Lake I is the upstream sub-basin and has a water-surface elevation of 4525 m asl. There is no surface input into Lake I. Lake I discharges into Lake II (water-surface elevation of 4522 m asl) which in turn discharges into Lake III (water-surface elevation of 4520 m asl). A small stream discharges into Lake III from the southeast. This is the only surface input to the lakes, which are otherwise fed by direct precipitation and springs. The lakes have water depths between 0.3 m (Lake I) and 1 m (Lake III). Lake I and II are seasonally dry, however Lake III is a permanent water body. At their maximum (summer) extent, Lakes I, II and III have areas of 5.4 km2, 50 km2 and 80 km2 respectively. The lake water is saline. The salt content varies from is 168.7 g/l to 403 g/L and the pH from 9 to 10.2. The modern sediments consist of mirabilite bearing carbonate clay in the centre of the lake and mirabilite-bearing carbonate sand with gravels in the nearshore zone. The three saline lakes are inset within a playa. The existence of this playa indicates that Bangkog Lake was larger in the past. The lake basin originated through faulting in the Mesozoic. The underlying bedrock is Cretaceous conglomerate, sandstone and argillite. The climate in the catchment is cold (annual mean temperature of 1.5°C) and arid (total annual precipitation of 308.3 mm, total annual evaporation of 2238.6 mm).
References:
- Yu, G., Harrison, S.P., and Xue, B. (2001): Lake status records from China: Data Base Documentation. MPI-BGC Technology Report No. 4, pp. 157-161.
|
|
Map Reference: 31°43'N , 89°29'E
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.
|
Mineral List:4 entries listed. 4 valid minerals.
The above list 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!
