Characteristics and Material Sources of Global Brine-Type Lithium Deposits

Lithium brine deposits are mainly distributed in the three major plateaus of the world: the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China, the Andean Plateau in South America and the Western Plateau in North America, forming the three major lithium ore-forming regions in the world. The lithium-rich salt lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China include Zabuye Salt Lake, Nam Co Salt Lake and Da Qaidam Salt Lake. The lithium-rich salt lakes on the Andean Plateau in South America mainly include Uyuni Salt Lake and Atacama Salt Lake, while the lithium-rich salt lakes on the Western Plateau in North America mainly include the Salton Sea and Clayton Valley. Based on a large amount of data collection, this article analyses the characteristics of the lithium-rich salt lakes on the three plateaus, and concludes that the tectonic background of the lithium-rich salt lakes is mostly associated with subduction-collision orogenic belts, surrounded by abundant igneous rocks. The main source of lithium is deep-seated hydrothermal fluids leaching lithium from rocks and bringing it to the surface in the form of hot springs, replenishing the salt lakes.