Lithium resources and lithium isotopes: constraints on the origin of lithium in playas in Nevada

Abstract

Highly concentrated lithium resources are often formed in salt crusts and playas by repetition of water evaporation and inspissation. Recently, lithium isotopic ratios have been identified as a tool for investigating water-rock interactions. Thus, to estimate the origin of lithium in playas, we determined lithium isotopic ratios together with trace element contents of various lacustrine sediment and evaporite deposit samples collected from playas in Nevada, USA. These results indicate that the lithium concentrated in playas was supplied mainly through high-temperature water-rock interaction associated with local hydrothermal activity and not directly by low-temperature weathering of surface materials.