GEOCHEMICAL CONTROLS ON LITHIUM DISTRIBUTION IN ORE MINERALS AT THE RHYOLITE RIDGE DEPOSIT, NEVADA

To power the future, the world will need to use more renewable energy and make the transition away from the fossil fuels. Resource demand is outpacing supplies to support this energy transition and this is becoming one of the world’s technological challenges. The United States (US) is heavily dependent on other countries for many strategic elements/minerals that will help to fuel this transition. The exploration, extraction, construction, and operation of these deposits to transition into mines takes tens of years and tens to hundreds of millions of dollars.

One of these strategic elements which is needed to help power this energy transition is lithium which is primarily used in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage. To help build a stronger domestic market for batteries in the US the strategic mineral program and industry is partnering to identify and evaluate potential opportunities to extract lithium-rich deposits in the US. Numerous lithium-rich deposits have been identified in Nevada but their distribution, geochemical controls and mineralogy need to be better understood.

In this presentation we will discuss preliminary geochemical and mineralogic results at Rhyolite Ridge, Nevada and describe initial characterization of the mineralogic and geochemical distribution of lithium. Within the lake sediments of the Cave Springs formation at Rhyolite Ridge there are two major mineralized zones: the upper zone which has high lithium concentrations and the lower zone which has both high lithium and boron concentrations. Lithium in the upper zone is primarily found in hectorite (lithium rich smectite) and in the lower zone is found primarily in lithium rich illite (associated with boron). The observed distribution of lithium and boron and the associated mineralization is being investigated.

Rhyolite Ridge is a lithium-boron rich deposit in Nevada that may provide the US some much needed internal supplies of lithium. By understanding and identifying the connections between these elements, the minerals that host them and other deposits, the United States may be able to further expand its domestic production of lithium.