Pegmatite lithium deposits formed within low-temperature country rocks
Abstract The global climate crisis is likely to lead to a potential supply risk of lithium (Li) over the coming decades. More than half of the world’s production of Li is derived from Li-bearing pegmatites. Although pegmatites are widespread, only a small fraction host economically relevant Li miner...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55793-8 |
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| author | Jinsheng Zhou Qiang Wang He Wang Jinlong Ma Guanhong Zhu Le Zhang |
| author_facet | Jinsheng Zhou Qiang Wang He Wang Jinlong Ma Guanhong Zhu Le Zhang |
| author_sort | Jinsheng Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The global climate crisis is likely to lead to a potential supply risk of lithium (Li) over the coming decades. More than half of the world’s production of Li is derived from Li-bearing pegmatites. Although pegmatites are widespread, only a small fraction host economically relevant Li mineralization. Revealing which factors cause some pegmatites to be enriched in Li and others to be barren is critical for understanding Li pegmatite formation and for guiding exploration for new Li resources. In this study, we used an approach involving the analysis of natural samples from the Jiajika pegmatite deposit (China), combined with thermal and diffusion modeling. Here we show that Li contents in pegmatites are controlled not only by the initial Li contents in pegmatite melts but also by the temperature of the surrounding country rocks at the time of pegmatite emplacement. Lithium-mineralized pegmatites form preferentially when Li-rich pegmatite melts intrude low-temperature country rocks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-79a848a162a843ccbaa4e3b90ac2155c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-79a848a162a843ccbaa4e3b90ac2155c2025-08-20T02:36:41ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111110.1038/s41467-024-55793-8Pegmatite lithium deposits formed within low-temperature country rocksJinsheng Zhou0Qiang Wang1He Wang2Jinlong Ma3Guanhong Zhu4Le Zhang5State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract The global climate crisis is likely to lead to a potential supply risk of lithium (Li) over the coming decades. More than half of the world’s production of Li is derived from Li-bearing pegmatites. Although pegmatites are widespread, only a small fraction host economically relevant Li mineralization. Revealing which factors cause some pegmatites to be enriched in Li and others to be barren is critical for understanding Li pegmatite formation and for guiding exploration for new Li resources. In this study, we used an approach involving the analysis of natural samples from the Jiajika pegmatite deposit (China), combined with thermal and diffusion modeling. Here we show that Li contents in pegmatites are controlled not only by the initial Li contents in pegmatite melts but also by the temperature of the surrounding country rocks at the time of pegmatite emplacement. Lithium-mineralized pegmatites form preferentially when Li-rich pegmatite melts intrude low-temperature country rocks.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55793-8 |
| spellingShingle | Jinsheng Zhou Qiang Wang He Wang Jinlong Ma Guanhong Zhu Le Zhang Pegmatite lithium deposits formed within low-temperature country rocks Nature Communications |
| title | Pegmatite lithium deposits formed within low-temperature country rocks |
| title_full | Pegmatite lithium deposits formed within low-temperature country rocks |
| title_fullStr | Pegmatite lithium deposits formed within low-temperature country rocks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pegmatite lithium deposits formed within low-temperature country rocks |
| title_short | Pegmatite lithium deposits formed within low-temperature country rocks |
| title_sort | pegmatite lithium deposits formed within low temperature country rocks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55793-8 |
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