The tempo-spatial characteristics and forming mechanism of Lithium-rich brines in China

摘要

With the technological development of exploitation and separation,the primary source of lithium has gradually changed from ore to brine,which has become the main raw material,accounting for more than 80% of the total production.Resources of lithium-bearing brine are abundant in China.This paper has summarized the spatial and temporal distribution,characteristics,and formation mechanism of the lithium-rich brine in China,aiming to provide a comprehensive set of guidelines for future lithium exploitation from brines.Lithium brines usually exist in modem saline lakes and deep underground sedimentary rocks as subsurface brines.The metallogenic epoch of China''s lithium-rich brine spans from the Triassic to the Quaternary,and these brines exhibit obvious regional distribution characteristics.Modem lithium-rich saline lakes are predominately located in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.In comparison,the subsurface lithium-rich brines are mainly distributed in the sedimentary basins of Sichuan,Hubei,Jiangxi,and the western part of the Qaidam Basin.Lithium-rich saline lakes are chloride-enriched,sulfate-enriched,and carbonateenriched,while the deep lithium-rich brines are mainly chloride-enriched.On the whole,the value of Mg/Li in deep brine is generally lower than that of brine in saline lakes.The genesis of lithium-rich brines in China is not uniform,generally there are two processes,which are respectively suitable for salt lakes and deep brine.