1 IntroductionLocated in the eastern part of the Tarim basin, Xinjiang,the Lop Nur is a Quaternary playa, known as the "Sea ofDeath". Since the beginning of the last century, geologistshave carried out investigations of the Quaternarystratigraphy, regional geology, geomorphology, climateand lake sedimentation in the Lop Nur (Chen, 1936;Morzhaev, 1955; Sinitsyin, 1955; Chen et al., 1964; Fan etal., 1987; Li and Xia, 1987; Lin et al., 1987; Wang, 1987Wang and Li, 1987a, b; Xia, 1987; Li…