The northern part is fed from two inlets on east and on the west, by the snow melt of the Rianglinag Mountains (6,364 metres (20,879 ft)).

The layers from 10 to 14 rise above 4,600 meters and suggest that long ago, the lake was open and had a much larger area.

[2] The production of zabuyelite from the salt lake water began in 2004–2005,[9] after exploration work for the mineral was initiated in 1982.

[13] The company involved with the extraction, Zabuye (Shenzhen) Lithium Trading Co., Ltd., was established in 1999, employs 11–50 people and has the sales volumes of the order $10 million.

[13] Tibet Mineral Development is investing CNY 1.084 billion to enhance production of lithium from Lake Zabuye.

[15] In August 2021, the Tibet Mineral Development announced its intention to invest in the second phase of the Zabuye Salt Lake Green Comprehensive Development and Utilization Project, specifically the 10,000 Tons of Battery-grade Lithium Carbonate Project, with an expected investment of RMB 2 billion.