| Citation: |
Dian-he Liu, Cheng-lin Liu, Chun-lian Wang, Xiao-can Yu, 2025. Distribution, characteristics, metallogenic processes and prospecting potential of terrestrial brine-type lithium deposits in the world and lithium demand situation, China Geology, 8, 1-25. doi: 10.31035/cg20230128
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Distribution, characteristics, metallogenic processes and prospecting potential of terrestrial brine-type lithium deposits in the world and lithium demand situation
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Abstract
In response to the rise of the energy storage industries such as new energy vehicles and the wide application of lithium in various fields worldwide, the global demand for lithium resources has been in explosive growth. In order to further comprehensively understand the global supply and demand pattern, development and utilization status, genesis of ore deposits and other characteristics of lithium resources, based on the achievements of many researchers at home and abroad, this paper systematically summarized the lithium supply and demand situation, resource endowment, deposit classification and distribution, typical geological characteristics, metallogenic factors and metallogenic regularity of terrestrial brine-type lithium deposits which are the main types of development and utilization all over the world. The review shows that brine-type lithium resource and (or) reserves in the plateau salt lakes are huge and play an important role. In addition, the mineralization potential of the underground brine-type lithium deposit is broad worldwide. The potential resources of underground brines are enormous, and the geothermal spring water type is also worthy of attention. Brine lithium deposits are mainly controlled by the subduction and collision of regional plate tectonics, arid climate and provenance conditions. Strengthening of the scientific research on underground brines in the future is expected to provide another significant support for the global demand for lithium resources.
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Dian-he Liu, Cheng-lin Liu, Chun-lian Wang, Xiao-can Yu, 2025. Distribution, characteristics, metallogenic processes and prospecting potential of terrestrial brine-type lithium deposits in the world and lithium demand situation, China Geology, 8, 1-25. doi: 10.31035/cg20230128
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Figure 1.
Past and projected production and consumption of global lithium mines (after Sun X et al., 2022; USGS, 2022)
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Figure 2.
Main lithium ore resources and reserves distribution and the main lithium mineral products producing countries worldwide (after USGS, 2022)
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Figure 3.
Distribution map of major lithium-rich brine deposits in the world.
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Figure 4.
Distribution and geological schematic map of salt lakes in the South American plateau (after Allmendinger R et al.,1997; López Steinmetz RL and Salvi S, 2021)
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Figure 5.
Distribution map of brine-type lithium deposits in the western plateau of North America
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Figure 6.
Distribution map of lithium-bearing salt lakes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (after Dong T et al. 2015, He L et al. 2015, Bai YM et al. 2018, Fan QS et al. 2018, Han JB, 2018, Li QK et al. 2022, Yu SY et al. 2022).
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Figure 7.
Distribution map of evaporite basins in South China since Mesozoic. (1) Jiangling depression; (2) Qianjiang depression; (3) Xiaoban depression; (4) Yunying depression; (5) Nanxiang basin; (6) Yewu depression; (7) Wucheng Basin; (8) Dingyuan depression; (9) Huaian depression; (10) Jintan Basin; (11) Qingjiang Basin; (12) Hengyang Basin; (13) Jitai Basin; (14) Huichang Basin; (15) Sanshui Basin (modified from Wang JY et al., 2021)
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Figure 8.
Location map of the Siberian Platform and four artesian basins indicating distribution of salt-bearing deposits and brines on the Platform (after Alexeev SV et al., 2007).
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Figure 9.
Map of the Salar de Atacama basin, showing the major rock units (Godfrey LV et al., 2019).
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Figure 10.
Regional geology of the Clayton Valley, NV region represented by USGS geologic map (afterLudington S et al., 2007)
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Figure 11.
a‒Location of Lake Zabuye in the world.
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov; b‒map of the southern and northren subbasins of Zabuye (after Ling Y et al., 2017). -
Figure 12.
a‒Geographic location of the Jianghan Basin (after Gan YQ et al., 2014); b‒locations of sampling boreholes (after Yu XC et al., 2021); and c‒stratigraphic column of the Jianghan Basin (after Wang BJ et al., 2006).
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Figure 13.
Map of Pacific plate subduction into southern China plate and its stagnant slabs in the mantle transition zone during the late Mesozoic in southeast China (after Huang JL and Zhao DP, 2006).
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Figure 14.
Relationship between Mg/Li ratio and lithium concentration in terrestrial water body worldwide (data after Chan LH et al., 1993; Huh Y et al., 1998; James RH and Palmer MR, 2000; Kasemann SA et al., 2004; Teng FZ et al., 2004; Tomascak PB, 2004; Kay SM et al., 1994; Munk LA and Chamberlain CP, 2011; Misra S and Froelich PN, 2012; Wang LC et al., 2017; Godfrey LV et al., 2019; Garcia MG et al., 2020; He MY et al., 2020; Weynell et al., 2021, Yu XC et al., 2022; Yan K et al., 2022; Li ZY et al., 2024)
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Figure 15.
δ7Li vs. Li concentration or content diagram of terrestrial brines. (a) δ7Li vs. Li content of surrounding rocks of salt lake brine; (b) δ7Li vs. Li concentration of river, cold and hot spring; (c) δ7Li vs. Li concentration of brines. Data for Qaidam basin from He MY et al., 2020; Data for Tibet from Weynell M et al., 2021, Li ZY et al., 2024; North American data cited from Munk LA and Chamberlain CP, 2011; South American plateau salt lake data from Kasemann SA et al., 2004; Kay SM et al., 1994; Godfrey LV et al., 2019; García MG et al., 2020; Data of Jianghan Basin cited from Wang LC et al., 2017; Yan K et al., 2022; The Jitai Basin is from Yu XC et al., 2022. (Worldwide data on rivers, subsurface brines, continental hydrothermal fluids, and continental crust from Huh Y et al., 1998; James RH and Palmer MR, 2000; Chan LH et al., 1993; Tomascak PB, 2004; Misra S and Froelich PN, 2012; Teng FZ et al., 2004)
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Figure 16.
Genesis of high temperature Li-enriched brine in Jiangling depression, South China (after Liu CL et al., 2013)
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Figure 17.
Kinetic models of the formation of brine-Li deposits in salt lakes of plateaus in the world (after Liu CL et al., 2021).
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Figure 18.
Summary diagram of the geologic, geochemical, and hyprogeologic features of lithium brines emphasizing the sources, transport, and fate of lithium (after Bradley D et al., 2013)