Rare metals such as lithium(Li),rubidium(Rb),and cesium(Cs)are strategically crucial mineral resources for the development of emerging industries in China.Ensuring a stable long-term supply of these resources is essen...Rare metals such as lithium(Li),rubidium(Rb),and cesium(Cs)are strategically crucial mineral resources for the development of emerging industries in China.Ensuring a stable long-term supply of these resources is essential.The geothermal systems in Xizang,China are well-developed,with a wide distribution of various types.Most high-temperature geothermal systems in Xizang are exceptionally enriched in rare metal elements(RMEs)and have the potential to become a new source of rare metals to secure China's strategic mineral resource supply in the future.A close relationship also exists between the geothermal system and the special salt lake resources on the Tibetan Plateau.Geothermal springs thus play a key role in the migration and enrichment of RMEs from deep to shallow parts of the crust,in the transition between endogenous and exogenous mineralization,and source-to-sink processes.However,the mechanisms of element enrichment and evolution in these springs have not been systematically discussed,and many theoretical issues remain to be investigated.Based on summarizing and analyzing previous research,this study employs hydrochemical and isotopic geochemistry methods to investigate typical geothermal springs across Xizang and explore the anomalous enrichment mechanism of RMEs,and the resource effects of geothermal springs.Comprehensive analysis shows that the total dissolved solids(TDS)and hydrochemical types of geothermal springs are similar to those of major geothermal fields worldwide,but the Tibetan springs are abnormally rich in Li(averaging5.48 mg/L),Rb(averaging 0.75 mg/L),and Cs(averaging 3.58 mg/L),which are hundreds to thousands of times more concentrated than natural waters.The distribution of these enriched geothermal springs is controlled by the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone and the extended N-S trending rifts,especially in the intersection zone of the two,where the geothermal springs are the most enriched.Based on the spatial distribution,isotopic,and elemental geochemistry,the RMEs enriched in Tibetan geothermal springs are mainly derived from the magmatic-hydrothermal fluids generated by the partial melting of the subducted Indian plate under the Eurasian continent.These fluids not only maintain geothermal activities as a heat source but also participate in the material cycle of the geothermal spring as a material source.Against the background of regional crustal enrichment in RMEs,incompatible elements such as Li,Rb,and Cs are gradually enriched in magmatic-hydrothermal processes including partial melting in the source,magmatic differentiation,and hydrothermal fluid exsolution,and some ore-forming elements are further extracted from surrounding rocks through deep high-temperature water-rock interactions.Eventually,an eruption occurs,and these fluids move to the surface to form a geothermal spring rich in RMEs.With the drainage of geothermal springs,the RMEs are continuously transported to the lake basin by surface runoff and continue to concentrate and evolve into salt lake brines under an extremely arid climate environment,constituting an endogenous source and exogenous accumulation salt lake metallogenic model.This comprehensive explanation of the sources,migration,enrichment mechanisms,and resource effects of geothermal springs will deepen the understanding of rare metal mineralization processes,and aid in the advancement of theoretical models for key rare metal mineral resources in various geological bodies of the Tibetan Plateau,significantly expanding exploration scopes and accurately assessing the resource potential of RMEs.展开更多
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 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.展开更多
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(Grant No.2022QZKK0202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U22A20573)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.B230201014)the Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes(Grant No.2024-KFKT-A07)。
文摘Rare metals such as lithium(Li),rubidium(Rb),and cesium(Cs)are strategically crucial mineral resources for the development of emerging industries in China.Ensuring a stable long-term supply of these resources is essential.The geothermal systems in Xizang,China are well-developed,with a wide distribution of various types.Most high-temperature geothermal systems in Xizang are exceptionally enriched in rare metal elements(RMEs)and have the potential to become a new source of rare metals to secure China's strategic mineral resource supply in the future.A close relationship also exists between the geothermal system and the special salt lake resources on the Tibetan Plateau.Geothermal springs thus play a key role in the migration and enrichment of RMEs from deep to shallow parts of the crust,in the transition between endogenous and exogenous mineralization,and source-to-sink processes.However,the mechanisms of element enrichment and evolution in these springs have not been systematically discussed,and many theoretical issues remain to be investigated.Based on summarizing and analyzing previous research,this study employs hydrochemical and isotopic geochemistry methods to investigate typical geothermal springs across Xizang and explore the anomalous enrichment mechanism of RMEs,and the resource effects of geothermal springs.Comprehensive analysis shows that the total dissolved solids(TDS)and hydrochemical types of geothermal springs are similar to those of major geothermal fields worldwide,but the Tibetan springs are abnormally rich in Li(averaging5.48 mg/L),Rb(averaging 0.75 mg/L),and Cs(averaging 3.58 mg/L),which are hundreds to thousands of times more concentrated than natural waters.The distribution of these enriched geothermal springs is controlled by the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone and the extended N-S trending rifts,especially in the intersection zone of the two,where the geothermal springs are the most enriched.Based on the spatial distribution,isotopic,and elemental geochemistry,the RMEs enriched in Tibetan geothermal springs are mainly derived from the magmatic-hydrothermal fluids generated by the partial melting of the subducted Indian plate under the Eurasian continent.These fluids not only maintain geothermal activities as a heat source but also participate in the material cycle of the geothermal spring as a material source.Against the background of regional crustal enrichment in RMEs,incompatible elements such as Li,Rb,and Cs are gradually enriched in magmatic-hydrothermal processes including partial melting in the source,magmatic differentiation,and hydrothermal fluid exsolution,and some ore-forming elements are further extracted from surrounding rocks through deep high-temperature water-rock interactions.Eventually,an eruption occurs,and these fluids move to the surface to form a geothermal spring rich in RMEs.With the drainage of geothermal springs,the RMEs are continuously transported to the lake basin by surface runoff and continue to concentrate and evolve into salt lake brines under an extremely arid climate environment,constituting an endogenous source and exogenous accumulation salt lake metallogenic model.This comprehensive explanation of the sources,migration,enrichment mechanisms,and resource effects of geothermal springs will deepen the understanding of rare metal mineralization processes,and aid in the advancement of theoretical models for key rare metal mineral resources in various geological bodies of the Tibetan Plateau,significantly expanding exploration scopes and accurately assessing the resource potential of RMEs.
基金This study was jointly supported by Central Welfare Basic Scientific Research Business Expenses(KK2005,YYWF201607)the project of the industrial leading talant of Wuhan municipality of Hubei Province,the Editor of China Geology,Rui-qin Li,and many thanks for a nice review by anonymous reviewers.
文摘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.
