Lithium:
A Source to Sink Story
We have started taking applicable geological subsurface screening methods from the hydrocarbon industry and applying them within a wider mineral systems approach to metal exploration. For example, a source to sink mentality, typically used in sediment provenance and clastic reservoir quality studies can be applied to the lithium mineral system. The key geological features in this system can be tracked and understood throughout geological time in a holistic fashion using the tools we already have available in global/regional hydrocarbon exploration. Those prospecting to expand their portfolios, especially of commodities increasingly needed for the energy transition, will need to look deeper and beyond known occurrences. New ways of thinking about mineral exploration and ultimately production must be adopted.
The Energy Transition is being driven by the need to mitigate climate change through a progressive global switch to lower carbon energy sources. Critical minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements, will be needed in ever greater amounts for electrification and infrastructure upgrades as well as for providing the raw components for electric vehicles, renewable energy generation and battery storage. Amongst these clean energy minerals, we need to rapidly scale up the production of lithium if we are to meet the surging demand. So, what is this vital element, and, more importantly, how do we find more of it?
There are three main types of economic lithium deposits that are currently mined around the world: pegmatites, saline brine deposits and those associated with caldera clay deposits. However, there is also a growing interest in dissolved lithium, such as in oilfield formation waters, suggesting that resource and economic opportunities may have been missed. For example, if lithium-rich formation waters, essentially viewed as wastewater in hydrocarbon wells, from the Permian basin were artificially concentrated, filtered and extracted, they could potentially produce 787 metric tons of Li2CO3 per day, equating to approximately $60 million at current prices.
Lithium:
A Source to
Sink Story
The Energy Transition is being driven by the need to mitigate climate change through a progressive global switch to lower carbon energy sources. Critical minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements, will be needed in ever greater amounts for electrification and infrastructure upgrades as well as for providing the raw components for electric vehicles, renewable energy generation and battery storage. Amongst these clean energy minerals, we need to rapidly scale up the production of lithium if we are to meet the surging demand. So, what is this vital element, and, more importantly, how do we find more of it?
There are three main types of economic lithium deposits that are currently mined around the world: pegmatites, saline brine deposits and those associated with caldera clay deposits. However, there is also a growing interest in dissolved lithium, such as in oilfield formation waters, suggesting that resource and economic opportunities may have been missed. For example, if lithium-rich formation waters, essentially viewed as wastewater in hydrocarbon wells, from the Permian basin were artificially concentrated, filtered and extracted, they could potentially produce 787 metric tons of Li2CO3 per day, equating to approximately $60 million at current prices.
We have started taking applicable geological subsurface screening methods from the hydrocarbon industry and applying them within a wider mineral systems approach to metal exploration. For example, a source to sink mentality, typically used in sediment provenance and clastic reservoir quality studies can be applied to the lithium mineral system. The key geological features in this system can be tracked and understood throughout geological time in a holistic fashion using the tools we already have available in global/regional hydrocarbon exploration. Those prospecting to expand their portfolios, especially of commodities increasingly needed for the energy transition, will need to look deeper and beyond known occurrences. New ways of thinking about mineral exploration and ultimately production must be adopted.
This article will showcase:
- How to successfully migrate a source to sink mentality typically used in sediment provenance and clastic reservoir quality studies to a lithium mineral system.
- How Neftex® Predictions, a DecisionSpace® 365 solution helps to potentially evaluate and de-risk lithium extraction from unconventional sources like oilfield formation water.
- Our holistic approach to enhancing your mineral exploration using cross-industry collaboration, subject matter expertise, relevant content, and applications.
This article will showcase:
- How to successfully migrate a source to sink mentality typically used in sediment provenance and clastic reservoir quality studies to a lithium mineral system.
- How Neftex® Predictions, a DecisionSpace® 365 solution helps to potentially evaluate and de-risk lithium extraction from unconventional sources like oilfield formation water.
- Our holistic approach to enhancing your mineral exploration using cross-industry collaboration, subject matter expertise, relevant content, and applications.
