Contrasting sources and enrichment mechanisms in lithium-rich salt lakes: A Li-H-O isotopic and geochemical study from northern Tibetan Plateau

Lithium (Li), a crucial mineral resource for modern high-tech industries, is notably abundant in the northern Tibetan Plateau, primarily within lithium-rich salt lakes. However, the exploration and development of these resources are hindered due to an incomplete understanding of their nature and ori...

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Main Authors: Fei Xue, Hongbing Tan, Xiying Zhang, M. Santosh, Peixin Cong, Lu Ge, Chao Li, Guohui Chen, Yu Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-03-01
Series:Geoscience Frontiers
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987123002359
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author Fei Xue
Hongbing Tan
Xiying Zhang
M. Santosh
Peixin Cong
Lu Ge
Chao Li
Guohui Chen
Yu Zhang
author_facet Fei Xue
Hongbing Tan
Xiying Zhang
M. Santosh
Peixin Cong
Lu Ge
Chao Li
Guohui Chen
Yu Zhang
author_sort Fei Xue
collection DOAJ
description Lithium (Li), a crucial mineral resource for modern high-tech industries, is notably abundant in the northern Tibetan Plateau, primarily within lithium-rich salt lakes. However, the exploration and development of these resources are hindered due to an incomplete understanding of their nature and origin. Here we present results from a comprehensive study on the hydrochemical parameters, whole-rock geochemistry, H-O isotopes, and Li concentrations in surface brine, river water, geothermal springs, and associated rocks from two representative lithium-enriched salt lakes, the Laguo Co (LGC) and Cangmu Co (CMC) in Tibet to understand the genetic mechanisms. Our water-salt balance calculations and H-O isotopic analysis reveal that Li in LGC and CMC primarily originates from the Suomei Zangbo (SMZB, ∼91%) and Donglong Zangbo (DLZB, ∼75%) rivers, respectively. It is estimated that the LGC and CMC took a minimum of 6.0 ka and 3.0 ka to accumulate their current lithium resources, respectively. The distinct geological characteristics reflect evolutionary differences between the two lakes, suggesting diverse lithium sources and enrichment processes. The high lithium ion concentration and light lithium isotope composition in the SMZB river waters indicate the genetic relationship with lithium-enriched geothermal springs in the Tibetan Plateau. Our results suggest that lithium in the LGC originates from lithium-enriched geothermal springs and is primarily supplied through the small-scale SMZB river. In contrast, the formation and evolution of CMC are influenced by the northern Lunggar rifts, receiving a prolonged and stable input from the DLZB, resulting in high lithium concentrations and isotopic values. The absence of lithium-enriched geothermal springs and the prevalence of silicate rocks in the CMC catchment suggest that lithium may be sourced from the weathering of silicate rocks, such as granitic pegmatite veins containing lithium-rich beryl, widely distributed in the upstream area of DLZB. The forward modeling approach, quantifying the contribution fractions of different reservoirs (atmospheric precipitation, silicate, carbonate, and evaporite), indicates that the distinct lithium concentrations in the mainstream (>1 mg/L) and tributaries (<0.1 mg/L) are positively correlated with the ratio of silicate contributions to carbonate contributions, suggesting that dissolved lithium in river waters primarily originates from the weathering and dissolution of silicate rocks. The distinct sources and enrichment mechanisms of lithium in these two salt lakes are attributed to various evolutionary processes, topographical features, hydrological factors, fundamental geological settings, and tectonic histories, despite their spatial proximity. Furthermore, our study highlights the significant role of rivers in the formation of young salt lakes, in addition to geothermal springs.
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spelling doaj.art-5037e2361caa4425a8381ea233d7d39f2024-02-14T05:14:16ZengElsevierGeoscience Frontiers1674-98712024-03-01152101768Contrasting sources and enrichment mechanisms in lithium-rich salt lakes: A Li-H-O isotopic and geochemical study from northern Tibetan PlateauFei Xue0Hongbing Tan1Xiying Zhang2M. Santosh3Peixin Cong4Lu Ge5Chao Li6Guohui Chen7Yu Zhang8School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; Corresponding author.Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai 810008, PR ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; Yonsei Frontier Lab, Yonsei University, Seoul 0372, KoreaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR ChinaLithium (Li), a crucial mineral resource for modern high-tech industries, is notably abundant in the northern Tibetan Plateau, primarily within lithium-rich salt lakes. However, the exploration and development of these resources are hindered due to an incomplete understanding of their nature and origin. Here we present results from a comprehensive study on the hydrochemical parameters, whole-rock geochemistry, H-O isotopes, and Li concentrations in surface brine, river water, geothermal springs, and associated rocks from two representative lithium-enriched salt lakes, the Laguo Co (LGC) and Cangmu Co (CMC) in Tibet to understand the genetic mechanisms. Our water-salt balance calculations and H-O isotopic analysis reveal that Li in LGC and CMC primarily originates from the Suomei Zangbo (SMZB, ∼91%) and Donglong Zangbo (DLZB, ∼75%) rivers, respectively. It is estimated that the LGC and CMC took a minimum of 6.0 ka and 3.0 ka to accumulate their current lithium resources, respectively. The distinct geological characteristics reflect evolutionary differences between the two lakes, suggesting diverse lithium sources and enrichment processes. The high lithium ion concentration and light lithium isotope composition in the SMZB river waters indicate the genetic relationship with lithium-enriched geothermal springs in the Tibetan Plateau. Our results suggest that lithium in the LGC originates from lithium-enriched geothermal springs and is primarily supplied through the small-scale SMZB river. In contrast, the formation and evolution of CMC are influenced by the northern Lunggar rifts, receiving a prolonged and stable input from the DLZB, resulting in high lithium concentrations and isotopic values. The absence of lithium-enriched geothermal springs and the prevalence of silicate rocks in the CMC catchment suggest that lithium may be sourced from the weathering of silicate rocks, such as granitic pegmatite veins containing lithium-rich beryl, widely distributed in the upstream area of DLZB. The forward modeling approach, quantifying the contribution fractions of different reservoirs (atmospheric precipitation, silicate, carbonate, and evaporite), indicates that the distinct lithium concentrations in the mainstream (>1 mg/L) and tributaries (<0.1 mg/L) are positively correlated with the ratio of silicate contributions to carbonate contributions, suggesting that dissolved lithium in river waters primarily originates from the weathering and dissolution of silicate rocks. The distinct sources and enrichment mechanisms of lithium in these two salt lakes are attributed to various evolutionary processes, topographical features, hydrological factors, fundamental geological settings, and tectonic histories, despite their spatial proximity. Furthermore, our study highlights the significant role of rivers in the formation of young salt lakes, in addition to geothermal springs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987123002359Lithium isotopesHydrochemistrySalt lakesEnrichment mechanismTibetan Plateau
spellingShingle Fei Xue
Hongbing Tan
Xiying Zhang
M. Santosh
Peixin Cong
Lu Ge
Chao Li
Guohui Chen
Yu Zhang
Contrasting sources and enrichment mechanisms in lithium-rich salt lakes: A Li-H-O isotopic and geochemical study from northern Tibetan Plateau
Geoscience Frontiers
Lithium isotopes
Hydrochemistry
Salt lakes
Enrichment mechanism
Tibetan Plateau
title Contrasting sources and enrichment mechanisms in lithium-rich salt lakes: A Li-H-O isotopic and geochemical study from northern Tibetan Plateau
title_full Contrasting sources and enrichment mechanisms in lithium-rich salt lakes: A Li-H-O isotopic and geochemical study from northern Tibetan Plateau
title_fullStr Contrasting sources and enrichment mechanisms in lithium-rich salt lakes: A Li-H-O isotopic and geochemical study from northern Tibetan Plateau
title_full_unstemmed Contrasting sources and enrichment mechanisms in lithium-rich salt lakes: A Li-H-O isotopic and geochemical study from northern Tibetan Plateau
title_short Contrasting sources and enrichment mechanisms in lithium-rich salt lakes: A Li-H-O isotopic and geochemical study from northern Tibetan Plateau
title_sort contrasting sources and enrichment mechanisms in lithium rich salt lakes a li h o isotopic and geochemical study from northern tibetan plateau
topic Lithium isotopes
Hydrochemistry
Salt lakes
Enrichment mechanism
Tibetan Plateau
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987123002359
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