The laboratory is supported by the Institute of Mineral Resources, CAGS. The main research directions are mineralogenic regularities of salt deposits, theoretical and methodological study of assessment and multiple utilization of salt resources, salt lake environment and global change, geological ecology, biological resources and biologic technology of salt lakes.

A prospective area for potash deposits was discovered in Ninghai, Pu’er City in Yunnan Province with the main salt-bearing series occurring at a depth of 500-1500 m. A pilot environment correlation field was established in the salt lake area in the Qaidam Basin.

In 2013, 23 research papers were published with 4 papers in international journals and 4 in Chinese journals, all indexed by SCI, 3 papers in Chinese journals indexed by EI, and 12 papers in Chinese core journals.