5.2 Northwest China
Case 3 Groundwater pollution investigation, source intensity evaluation and risk
assessment of a landfill in Qinghai Province
(1) Overview of the study area
(a) Geographical location and transportation
The study area where the landfill is located covers 21,000 km
2 , and according to the
2014 statistical bulletin, embraces a total population of 9847, mainly composed of
Han, Mongolia and Tibetan people. It has convenient access to transportation as the
Qingxin and Liuge expressways run through the area and the Dunge Railway has
been built.
(b) Economic development
• Social and economic profile
– General introduction
National Highway 315 (Qinghai–Xinjiang Highway) and National Highway 215
(Dunhang–Golmud Highway) meet and run through the 21,000 km
2 administrative
area with an elevation of 3173 m.
The local economy relies on non-ferrous metals, coal and boron chemicals. With
continuous optimization of industrial structure and production layout, production
bases have been built based on energy, non-ferrous metals and chemical products.
– Natural resources
Mineral resources: The study area is rich in mineral resources characterized by
many varieties, large reserves and high grades. Totally 3 varieties of energy minerals, 13 kinds of metal minerals and 7 kinds of salt minerals have been incorporated into Qinghai Province’s mineral resources reserves table. Coal resources are
also abundant, mainly borne in Carboniferous and Jurassic strata. The reserves are
concentrated in the coal-bearing area on the northern edge of Qaidam Basin, and
coal mines are represented by Lvcaoshan, Datouyang, Gaoquan and Yuka.
Wildlife resources: There are many kinds of wild animals in the study area,
including wild yak, wild camel, wild donkey, pheasant and partridge. There are
more than 200 species of wild plants, of which medicinal plants with high economic
value include leontopodium, polygonum viviparum, scutellaria baicalensis, and
rhodiola rosea.
Cultural and tourism resources: The special geological structures create a unique
modern natural desert landscape in the basin, such as snow peaks, glaciers, mounds,
hot springs, salt lakes, Gobi, and oasis. Famous tourist resources include Nanbaxian
Yadan Landform and Dachaidan Hot Spring.
5.2 Northwest China
149
Case 3 Groundwater pollution investigation, source intensity evaluation and risk
assessment of a landfill in Qinghai Province
(1) Overview of the study area
(a) Geographical location and transportation
The study area where the landfill is located covers 21,000 km
2 , and according to the
2014 statistical bulletin, embraces a total population of 9847, mainly composed of
Han, Mongolia and Tibetan people. It has convenient access to transportation as the
Qingxin and Liuge expressways run through the area and the Dunge Railway has
been built.
(b) Economic development
• Social and economic profile
– General introduction
National Highway 315 (Qinghai–Xinjiang Highway) and National Highway 215
(Dunhang–Golmud Highway) meet and run through the 21,000 km
2 administrative
area with an elevation of 3173 m.
The local economy relies on non-ferrous metals, coal and boron chemicals. With
continuous optimization of industrial structure and production layout, production
bases have been built based on energy, non-ferrous metals and chemical products.
– Natural resources
Mineral resources: The study area is rich in mineral resources characterized by
many varieties, large reserves and high grades. Totally 3 varieties of energy minerals, 13 kinds of metal minerals and 7 kinds of salt minerals have been incorporated into Qinghai Province’s mineral resources reserves table. Coal resources are
also abundant, mainly borne in Carboniferous and Jurassic strata. The reserves are
concentrated in the coal-bearing area on the northern edge of Qaidam Basin, and
coal mines are represented by Lvcaoshan, Datouyang, Gaoquan and Yuka.
Wildlife resources: There are many kinds of wild animals in the study area,
including wild yak, wild camel, wild donkey, pheasant and partridge. There are
more than 200 species of wild plants, of which medicinal plants with high economic
value include leontopodium, polygonum viviparum, scutellaria baicalensis, and
rhodiola rosea.
Cultural and tourism resources: The special geological structures create a unique
modern natural desert landscape in the basin, such as snow peaks, glaciers, mounds,
hot springs, salt lakes, Gobi, and oasis. Famous tourist resources include Nanbaxian
Yadan Landform and Dachaidan Hot Spring.
5.2 Northwest China
149