Characteristics and Material Sources of Global Brine‐Type Lithium Deposits

ABSTRACT 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.