Characterization of lithium cycling in the Salar de Olaroz, Central Andes, using a geochemical and isotopic approach
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The Salar de Olaroz is one of the main Li operations in Argentina. In order to identify sources and to understand the dynamics of Li in this salt pan, chemical and isotopic analysis (δ7Li and 87Sr/86Sr) of brines, thermal and river waters, as well as ignimbrites and sediments that outcrop in the basin were performed. The Li concentrations in shallow brines (i.e., ∼0.6 m below surface) range from 260 to 890 mg L−1 (average = 841 mg L−1, n = 16), while in deep brines (i.e, 200–450 m b.s.) concentrations are higher (average = 993 mg L−1, n = 16) and range from 690 to 1490 approximately. δ7Li values range from +5.9 to +7.2 ‰ and from +8.1 to +10.2 ‰ in shallow and deep brines respectively, while δ7Li values of the regional rocks and sediments vary between -13.8 and +0.5‰. The 87Sr/86Sr values indicate that the chemical composition of brines in Olaroz is the result of mixing between solutes that are originated from bedrock weathering by shallow meteoric water and water that has a hydrothermal contribution. Due to evaporation, Li concentrations in shallow brines increase by two or three orders of magnitude when compared with the values determined in the main tributaries and in the discharge of thermal waters. This process does not produce measurable isotopic fractionation of Li, thus the isotopic signature of shallow brines and halite crystals in contact with these waters are similar. As brine density increases, water descends through layers of silt and as the brine ages at depth,…
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TDS as low as 6 g L-1 have been found in some salars such as Jama, whereas TDS up to 381 g L-1 were found at Olaroz.
“TDS as low as 6 g L -1 have been found in some salars such as Jama, whereas TDS up to 381 g L -1 were found at Olaroz, define the maximum measured values (García et al., 2019).”
From Brine grades in Andean salars: When basin size matters A review of the Lithium Triangle (2021) · cites this paper as García et al., 2019
The Paleozoic basement is considered to be the primary source of Li.
“The Paleozoic basement is also considered to be the primary source of Li (Egenhoff and Lucassen, 2003;Peralta Arnold et al., 2017;García et al., 2019;Meixner et al., 2019).”
From Brine grades in Andean salars: When basin size matters A review of the Lithium Triangle (2021) · cites this paper as García et al., 2019
Other studies have reported Li isotopic data showing that volcanic and Paleozoic basement rocks represent the primary source for Li in the Andean plateau.
“As already mentioned in section 5.1.,other studies have reported Li isotopic data showing that volcanic and Paleozoic basement rocks represent the primary source for Li in the Andean plateau (Egenhoff and Lucassen, 2003;Peralta Arnold et al., 2017;García et al., 2019;Meixner et al., 2019).”
From Brine grades in Andean salars: When basin size matters A review of the Lithium Triangle (2021) · cites this paper as García et al., 2019
Recent investigations on isotopic systematics show that the primary sources of Li in the Andes, including what is supplied by hydrothermal springs, are restricted varieties of lithologies of the Paleozoic basement that underlies the plateau.
“However, as discussed in section 5.1, thanks to recent investigations on isotopic systematics, it is now apparent that the primary sources of Li in the Andes, including what is supplied by hydrothermal springs, are restricted varieties of lithologies of the Paleozoic basement that underlies the plateau (Egenhoff and Lucassen, 2003;Peralta Arnold et al., 2017;García et al., 2019;Meixner et al., 201”
From Brine grades in Andean salars: When basin size matters A review of the Lithium Triangle (2021) · cites this paper as García et al., 2019
At Salar de Olaroz, the maximum measured Li is 1,213 mg/L whereas the average Li value resulting from mining operations is 841 mg/L.
“the case of Salar de Olaroz in Fig. 10 c and in Table 4, where max Li measured is of 1,213 mg L -1 whereas the average Li value that result from mining operations is of 841 mg L -1 ; Garcia et al., 2019”
From Brine grades in Andean salars: When basin size matters A review of the Lithium Triangle (2021) · cites this paper as Garcia et al., 2019
Garcia et al. (2020) reported Li+ concentrations for the ephemeral lakes (not available for samples E1-E3) ranging from 38 to 167 mg/L.
“Garcia et al. (2020) reported Li þ concentrations for these ephemeral lakes (not available for samples E1-E3) ranging from 38 to 167 mg/L.”
From Chemical and isotopic features of Li-rich brines from the Salar de Olaroz, Central Andes of NW Argentina (2020) · cites this paper as Garcia et al., 2020
The similarity between the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the Rosario River (0.715; Garcia et al., 2020) and the ratios of rocks from the Pairique volcanic complex (~0.716; Kay et al., 2010) represents additional evidence of the strong relation between the hydrothermal fluid circulation to the north and the main source of recharge of the Salar de Olaroz.
“The similarity between the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of the Rosario River (0.715; Garcia et al., 2020) and the ratios of rocks from the Pairique volcanic complex (~0.716;Kay et al., 2010) represent an additional evidence of the strong relation between the hydrothermal fluid circulation to the north and the main source of recharge of the Salar de Olaroz.”
From Chemical and isotopic features of Li-rich brines from the Salar de Olaroz, Central Andes of NW Argentina (2020) · cites this paper as Garcia et al., 2020
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“The average Li + ion concentration in the brine was determined at 628 ppm (Hombre Muerto salt flat) and 841 ppm (Olaroz salt flat) [92,93].”
- Authors
- Garcia, M. G., Borda, L. G., Godfrey, L. V., López Steinmetz, R. L., & Losada-Calderon, A.
- Affiliations
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Venue
- Chemical Geology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-01
- Volume
- 531
- Pages
- 119340
- ISSN
- 0009-2541 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2981458405
- Cited by
- 68
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6
- FWCI
- 4.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Chemical Geology (publishedVersion)
- CONICET Digital (CONICET) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Funders
- Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (SECyT-UNC 05/I754)
- Consejo Interinstitucional de Ciencia y Tecnología
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIO N\u00BA 14020140100010CO)
- Secretaria de Ciencia y Tecnología - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
- Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2015-0313, PICT-V-2014-3654)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Keywords
- lithium cycling, lithium brines, lithium isotopes, strontium isotopes, evaporite brines, lithium adsorption, clay minerals, iron oxyhydroxide, hydrothermal fluids, meteoric water, evaporite dissolution, lithium recovery, salt pans, halite, ignimbrites, evaporite diagenesis
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