The volcanic field lies in the Quiangtang plateau, in northern Tibet and the Kunlun mountains.
The high altitude, bad terrain and weather make geologic investigations in the region difficult.
[3] The Bamaoqiongzong (34°00′N 88°45′E / 34.000°N 88.750°E / 34.000; 88.750[b]), Yongbohu and Qiangbaqian (35°30′N 88°15′E / 35.500°N 88.250°E / 35.500; 88.250) fields featured Hawaiian eruptions that have formed lava flows.
[c] Bamaoqiongzong is potassic,[10] it also contains phonolite and its minerals include aegyrite, alkali feldspar, analcite,[4] foidite,[1] leucite, noselite and titanaugite.
[4] The Bamaoqiongzong, Yongbohu and Qiangbaqian volcanoes appear to be of Quaternary age, seeing as their deposits lie above Pliocene-Pleistocene rocks.
A satellite photo supposedly showing activity from[1] a crater (35°51′N 91°42′E / 35.850°N 91.700°E / 35.850; 91.700) on a 1.5-kilometre-wide (0.93 mi) cone on the ring fault[5] of the Kekexili caldera in 1973 was later discarded.