Detrital zircon U-Pb age analyses for the samples from the first scientific potash exploration drill core in Lop Nur were conducted to reveal the potential source area of the Quaternary salt lake and stage tectonic evolution of the depression in Lop Nur. Th/U ratios show that the detrital zircons are dominantly magmatic origin, with minor metamorphic zircons. Zircon ages are concentrated mainly in the ranges of 209~240Ma, 265~304Ma, 320~385Ma, 406~446Ma, 705~880Ma and 2376~2405Ma. Combined with the rock nature and age range of the potential source area, it can be preliminarily concluded that the pre-Cambrian materials mainly sourced from the Kuruktag area, and the Caledonian sources derived from the Altyn and South Tianshan tectonic belts. 276Ma of age peak records a representative event of Permian large igneous province (LIPs) in the Tarim basin and South Tianshan is likely the major provenance. Indosinian and Cenozoic detrital zircon ages imply that the Beishan block and East Tianshan, even distant Pamir and West Kunlun, were the potential source areas. Due to largescale weathering and leaching, widely exposed K-rich rocks in the periphery of the depression were transported to Lop Nur, providing important materials for the Quaternary potash formation in Lop Nur. In addition, sediment compositions transported by drainage system of the Tarim basin were also major provenance, with limited amount from the orogenic belts in northern and northeastern Lop Nur. The vertical variety features of detrital zircon ages suggest an obvious tectonic uplift in the north part of Lop Nur, probably resulting in the formation of the Luobei depression.