Science & Technology Review >

2020 , Vol. 38 >Issue 15: 24 - 36

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3981/j.issn.1000-7857.2020.15.003

Exclusive: Development and sustainable utilization of lithium resources

Geothermal-type lithium resources in Southern Tibetan Plateau

  • WANG Chenguang ,
  • ZHENG Mianping ,
  • ZHANG Xuefei ,
  • YE Chuanyong ,
  • WU Qian ,
  • CHEN Shuangshang ,
  • LI Mingming ,
  • DING Tao ,
  • DU Shaorong
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  • 1. MNR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Gedogical Sciences, Beijing, 100037 China;
    2. College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology(Beijing), Beijing 100083, China;
    3. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Geodynamics and Geohazards, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China

Received date: 2020-04-01

  Revised date: 2020-04-13

  Online published: 2020-08-14

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Abstract

The high-temperature geothermal water contains abundant lithium resources, and the development and the utilization of the geothermal-type lithium resources are increasingly paid attention around the world. This paper reviews the lithium-rich geothermal resources among the geothermal resources on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and it is concluded that these resources have the following characteristics:(1) strong structural control:the lithium-rich geothermal spots in Southern Tibetan Plateau are often found in the intensely active high-temperature geothermal fields and are distributed on both sides of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone and its southern part, strongly controlled by north-south trending rifts or grabens formed by E-W extension; (2) good quality:the lithium concentration is up to 239 mg/L; the Mg/Li ratio is extremely low and ranges from 0.03 to 1.48 for most of the lithium-rich geothermal fluid; the Li/TDS value is relatively high and ranges from 0.25%-1.14% (Zhabuye lithium-rich salt lake:0.19%; Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia):0.08-0.31%); the continuous discharge is stable at least for several decades, in some parts reaches the industrial grades (32.74 mg/L:according to the industrial grades of Salt lake brine), and in addition, the elements such as B, Cs, and Rb are rich and can be comprehensively utilized; (3) large scale:according to incomplete statistics, there are at least 16 lithium-rich hot springs with lithium concentration of 19 mg/L or more, and the total discharge of lithium metal is about 4281 tons every year, equivalent to 25686 tons of lithium carbonate, moreover, drilling data show that the depth is still very promising; (4) lack of volcanism (non-volcanic geothermal system); (5) deep origin:the formation of lithium-rich geothermal resources are closely related to the deep crust partially melting caused by the collision of the Indo-Asia continent, the deep molten magma provides a stable heat source for the high-temperature lithium-rich geothermal field and the lithiumrich parent geothermal fluid rushes to the surface to form hot springs along the extensively developed tectonic fault zones in Southern Tibetan Plateau. Therefore, the widely developed high-temperature lithium-rich geothermal resources in the southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are valuable and worthy lithium resources. With the continuous advancement of the lithium extraction technologies on lithium-rich geothermal fluid, the lithium resource in Southern Tibetan Plateau is becoming a promising new type of mineral deposit-the geothermal-type lithium deposit and will be effectively exploited.

Key words： Southern Tibetan Plateau; geothermal; lithium resources

Cite this article

WANG Chenguang , ZHENG Mianping , ZHANG Xuefei , YE Chuanyong , WU Qian , CHEN Shuangshang , LI Mingming , DING Tao , DU Shaorong . Geothermal-type lithium resources in Southern Tibetan Plateau[J]. Science & Technology Review, 2020 , 38(15) : 24 -36 . DOI: 10.3981/j.issn.1000-7857.2020.15.003

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