Sodium carbonate deposits may be classified into three major types, Quaternary salt lake, Quaternarysand-covered playa and Tertiary continental detrital rock, all three having been found in China.

• 碳酸钠矿床有三大类型：第四纪盐湖型、第四纪砂下湖型及第三纪陆相碎屑岩型，在中国均有发现。矿床均赋存于第三纪以来（多为第四纪）陆相湖盆。