Atlas of lithium geothermal fluids in Europe
Blandine Gourcerol, Bernard Sanjuan, Romain Millot, Detlev Rettenmaier, Élodie Jeandel, Albert Genter, Clio Bosia, Aurélien Rombaut
Abstract
In the last decade, lithium has become a strategic metal leading several European countries to assess their Li-resources. For the first time, a geochemical characterization and assessment of identified Li-rich deep fluids in Europe has been conducted. A total of 182 occurrences have been identified. Geostatistical study suggests that the highest Li concentration values (i.e. 250–480 mg/l) are strongly correlated to B, Rb, K, SO4, Na, Cl and F whereas the lowest Li concentration values (i.e. 15 to 63 mg/l) are correlated to Mg, Mn, U and NH4. Moreover, the fluids’ ages are either coeval with a widespread emplacement of Li-magmatic bodies or deposition of sedimentary basins in Europe. Both reflecting extensional geodynamic setting. This review addresses main geochemical characteristics of deep fluids and contributes as a first step to the fundamental understanding of the geological processes for Li enrichment in the geothermal fluids.