Geochemistry / Technical Note

Lithium
An element of growing interest
due to modern technology
applications
Lithium is the lightest metal on earth, with an atomic number
of 3 and atomic mass of 6.94. It has a high heat capacity and
electrochemical potential which makes it ideal for technology
involving heat transfer such as welding and metallurgical
applications.
Its chemical properties, light weight to 20km from Greenbushes, which require three factors for economic
and high electrochemical potential is a 3km long and several hundred accumulation: an enriched Li
also make it highly desirable for metres wide pegmatite. The 12 by host source rock, a transport
batteries, allowing lithium batteries 20 km distal anomaly contained the mechanism, and concentration,
to hold three times the energy of elements As, Be, Sb and Sn, with a trapping or sorption mechanism.
nickel hydride at a third of the weight. more proximal 1 by 5 km anomaly Exploration considerations should
Lithium batteries also work at very containing an assemblage of Nb, Ta include Li-enriched sources such as
low temperatures and have a longer and B. Exploration for lithium can also differentiated rhyolitic or granitic
battery life. be aided by pathfinder geochemistry terrane, a groundwater or gaseous
of K, Mg, B, F, Na, Ca, Li/K and Li/Mg mechanism for Li transport and
Lithium is concentrated by magmatic
ratios. Where lithium is found in trace accumulation, and concentration
fractional crystallisation and or trapping via evaporation or clay
concentrations, it substitutes for other
partial melting, resulting in higher sorption.
metals rather than forming distinct
concentrations in some pegmatites
lithium minerals. The most common Lithium Background
and muscovite-bearing granites.
substitution is for Mg²+, the ion closest Concentrations:
During weathering, highly soluble
in size to lithium. Thus, by comparing
lithium is dissolved and transported • Natural waters: 1-3 ppb
the ratio of Li to Mg, increased Li
with water. In places where water is • Sea water: 170 ppb
substitution can be detected. All
trapped inland under arid conditions, • Shales: 66 ppm
elements of interest are reported by
the lithium is concentrated in • Deep-sea clays: 57 ppm
ME-MS89L™ except F which cannot be
residual brines. These concentration • Soil samples: 20-200 ppm
determined as hydrofluoric acid (HF) is
mechanisms have formed the two depending upon underlying host
part of the analytical process.
types of deposits, pegmatites and rock
continental lithium brines in closed Brine water samples may also be • Ultramafic rocks: 0.5 ppm
basins, which are the source of analysed for general chemistry • Granitic rocks: 40-100 ppm
most mined lithium. Other sources including pH, conductivity, alkalinity, • Micaceous schists: 50-200 ppm
of viable lithium resources include total dissolved solids, and Cl or Br. • Pegmatites: 100-2,000 ppm
geothermal brines, oilfield brines and Vegetation samples show anomalous • Continental brines: 50 ppb-2,000
clay minerals such as hectorite and lithium in response to elevated ppm
jadarite (Evans, 2013). Lithium is also groundwater, and indicator species • Great Salt Lake: 60 ppm Li
often produced as a by-product of may provide a useful exploration • Salton Sea: 200 ppm Li
potash operations. Smith et al (1987) medium (Cannon, 1975). • Chabyer salt-lake: 0.12% Li
describe a lateritic soil anomaly up Enriched brine occurrences • Salar de Atacama: 200 ppm-0.18% Li

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 selecting multi-element packages.
This will allow ALS to include lithium
specific Certified Reference Materials
for the highest quality results
and transparency of laboratory
performance.
References
Cannon, H.L., Harms, T.F., and Hamilton, J.C.
Geologic Source of Global Lithium 1975. Lithium in Unconsolidated sediments GEOCHEMISTRY CLIENT SERVICES
and plants of the Basin and Range Province,
Resource. Estimates from Keith Evans Southern California and Nevada. Geological
(2009). Survey Professional Paper 918. Department of Australia — Brisbane
the Interior.
T +61 7 3243 7222
ALS offers a range of methods
Evans, R.K., 2009. Lithium. in Lithium Supply E alsgeo.brisbane@alsglobal.com
suitable for all matrix types and at all and Markets. Conference: Industrial Minerals
stages of a project, from exploration magazine. Santiago, Chile.

to resource definition and grade
control. For assistance in selecting
the appropriate analytical method
for your needs, please contact your
local ALS Client Services Department.
When submitting your samples,
please indicate that the commodity
target is lithium, especially when
Evans, R.K., 2013. Lithium, chap. 10 in Gunn, G, Australia — Perth
ed., Critical Metals Handbook. Wiley, pp. T +61 8 9347 3222
230-260. E alsgeo.perth@alsglobal.com
Smith, R.E., Perdrix, J.L., and Davis, J.M., 1987,
Dispersion into pisolitic laterite from
Brazil — Belo Horizonte
the Greenbushes mineralized Sn-Ta pegmatite
system, Western Australia: Journal of T +55 31 3045 8400
Geochemical Exploration, v. 28, nos. 1–3, p. E alsgeo.belohorizonte@alsglobal.com
251–265.

Canada — Vancouver
Code Analytes & ranges Description T +1 604 984 0221
Li 2ppm–2.5%, Lowest detection limits using Na2O2 fusion and ALS’s E alsgeo.vancouver@alsglobal.com
Mg 0.01–30%; super trace ICP-MS methodology. A package suitable
ME-MS89L™ various other for exploration in pegmatites prospective for Li and Chile — Santiago
elements; accessory commodities. Boron may be added at an T +56 2 2654 6100
MP* – 10% additional cost. E alsgeo.santiago@alsglobal.com
Li 0.001–10%; Economical exploration method for Li-bearing
various other pegmatites using a Na2O2 fusion and ICP-AES finish. Ireland — Loughrea
ME-ICP89
elements; Includes all major elements and some key trace T +353 91 841 741
MP* – 7.5% elements in addition to lithium. E alsgeo.loughrea@alsglobal.com
Li 0.001–10%, Low level ore grade Li and B by Na2O2 fusion and
ME-ICP82b B 0.02–10%; ICP-AES analysis. Ideal for jadarite and Li/B-bearing
Mexico — Hermosillo
MP* – 5% pegmatites. T +52 662 260 7586
Li 10 ppm–1%; Intermediate level Li analysis suitable for exploration E alsgeo.hermosillo@alsglobal.com
various other of Li-bearing sediments, carbonates and evaporites.
ME-ICP41
elements; Aqua regia and ICP-AES finish, including Li-specific
Peru — Lima
MP* – 10% CRMs. T +51 1 574 57 00
Li 10 ppm–1%; Intermediate level Li analysis suitable for exploration of E alsgeo.lima@alsglobal.com
various other Li-bearing sediments. Four-acid digestion and ICP-AES
ME-ICP61
elements; finish, including Li-specific CRMs.
South Africa — Johannesburg
MP* – 10%
T +27 11 608 0555
Li 0.005–10%; Ore grade Li by specialised four-acid digestion and E alsgeo.johannesburg@alsglobal.com
Li-OG63 MP* – 5% ICP-AES finish, with Li-specific CRMs. Best suited to
Li-bearing silicate sediments.
Spain — Seville
Li 10-10000 ug/L; Trace level analysis of Li in brine samples, run as-is on T +34 955 513 035
various other the ICP-MS. If lab filtration or acidification is required, E alsgeo.seville@alsglobal.com
ME-MS14™
elements; please indicate this on the submittal form.
MP* – 10%
USA — Reno
Li 0.5-20000 mg/L; Intermediate to high level analysis of Li and other
T +1 775 356 5395
various other elements in brine samples, run as-is on the ICP-MS. E alsgeo.reno@alsglobal.com
ME-ICP15
elements; If acidification is required, please indicate this on the
MP* – 10% submittal form.
* MP – method precision. Visit our website for complete location
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