The xiao at the beginning of the name is the pinyinromanization of the Chinese word meaning "little" or "lesser", distinguishing it from nearby Dabiele Lake ("Big" or "Greater Biele Lake"). Xiaobiele is also known as Xiaobieletan[1] from a Chinese word used for both beaches and muddyriverbanks.
Xiaobiele's position at the south end of the playa means that its waters are relatively less influenced by the concentrated mineral springs along the playa's northern boundary.[5] As with Dabiele, it is nonetheless nearly saturated with calcite, anhydrite, halite, and (importantly) carnallite,[6] which is processed to produce potash for potassium-rich fertilizers and other uses. The Bieletan subbasin as a whole—inclusive of Suli, S. Suli, and Dabiele—is also the richest source of brinelithium in China, with an estimated store of 7.74 million metric tons (8.53 million short tons) of lithium chloride.[7] The lithium derives from hot springs located near Mount Buka Daban which now feed the Narin Gol River or Hongshui River[8](t紅水河,s红水河,Hóngshuǐ Hé) that flows into East Taijinar Lake.[9] In the past, however, the springs lay within the "Kunlun" paleolake which until about 30,000 years ago produced a river which flowed north into a broad alluvial fan feeding the "Qarhan" paleolake in the Sanhu area.[10] Bieletan's lithium came both from deposits directly flowing into the area at the time and continuing contributions from the Urt Moron and other rivers arising in and flowing through the former alluvial plain.[11]
