Discovery of Lithium-Rich Sedimentary Rocks in Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation in Eastern Hebei Province and Implications for Mechanism of Lithium Enrichment and Mineralization
Geng Xiaolei
Zhang Xiaorong
Wang Kebing
Liu Hefan
Zhao Baoqiang
Yang Jian
Mi Chengyu
Li Xiaofeng
Yang Jianghai
Abstract：In 2021,the research group discovered the Mesoproterozoic lithium-rich sedimentary series in eastern Hebei Province.This is the first lithium-rich sedimentary record found in the Precambrian strata in China.A total of 33 lithium-rich layers were found in the exploration area,with a thickness of 1.09-5.59 m,an average thickness of 2.32 m,Li2O grade of 0.1%-0.42%,and an average grade of 0.16%.The target layer has wide distribution,huge thickness,stable horizon,and huge lithium resource potential,so it has a huge potential for lithium resources.Lithium-rich sedimentary rocks are developed in the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation.Mineralogical and geochemical analyses show that dolomite is the dominant mineral with subordinate quartz,illite/smectite mixed layer,and illite.The lithium-rich rocks are characterized by high CaO,MgO and low Al2O3 contents.At room temperature and pressure,the reaction of argillaceous dolomite with dilute hydrochloric acid in a closed container can produce>77%lithium leaching.Compared with the Late Paleozoic lithium-rich sedimentary rocks in South China,this type of lithium-rich rocks in North China has significant differences in metallogenic age,ore-bearing succession,lithology,mineral composition,major and trace elements and occurrence state.And it is also different from the former,which requires effective leaching of lithium under heating conditions.These differences are likely related to the likely derivation of the ore-forming materials of lithium-rich rocks in the study area from the weathering of Shanhaiguan ancient land and the deposition in a dry carbonate tidal flat-lagoon environment.Therefore,the formation of the lithium-rich rocks in the Wumishan Formation is different from the previously proposed carbonate clay-type lithium deposits,indicating a new lithium enrichment mechanism.The exact mechanism of lithium enrichment in this rock series still needs to be further studied.
Keywords：eastern Hebei ProvinceMesoproterozoicWumishan Formationargillaceous dolomiteclay type lithiumore metallogenic mechanismore deposit
Publication Date：2025-07-30
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：18( 2689-2706 )