Geochemical Evolution of Brine Deposits in Closed Basins
Summary
Brine deposits in closed basins evolve through a complex interplay of climatic, tectonic and geochemical processes. Freshwater inflows, evaporation and groundwater circulation drive progressive concentration of dissolved ions, while water–rock interactions introduce and modify solute compositions. Mineral dissolution (notably halite and evaporites), secondary precipitation (carbonate and sulfate phases), and diagenetic reactions such as dolomitisation or albitisation further reshape brine chemistry. Geothermal and hydrothermal inputs linked to magmatic activity can supply heat and trace elements, including lithium and potassium, accelerating fluid–rock exchange. Tectonic setting controls basin geometry, fluid pathways and residence times, while palaeoclimate dictates water balance and evaporation rates. The resultant brines record both provenance signals—from weathering of basement and volcanic rocks—and in-situ concentration processes. Understanding these mechanisms has global significance for critical-element resources, notably lithium for energy technologies, and for reconstructing past environmental conditions.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies of Eocene–Oligocene brines in an oilfield basin reveal sodium-chloride to sodium-calcium-chloride water types with lithium concentrations spanning an order of magnitude. High Na/Cl and Cl/Br ratios point to halite dissolution, while Ca/Mg and Ca/Sr systematics infer coupled dolomitisation, albitisation and calcite or anhydrite cementation. Spatial trends in lithium and boron suggest contributions from geothermal fluids associated with volcanic activity. In parallel, a global assessment of lithium in groundwater from diverse sedimentary basins demonstrates that high-salinity waters can rival salar brines in lithium content. By synthesising published concentration data across nearly 3,000 samples, this work quantifies resource potential and highlights saline aquifers as viable alternatives to conventional mining, underlining their comparable volumes of recoverable lithium.
Geochemical Evolution of Brine Deposits in Closed Basins publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in geochemical evolution of brine deposits in closed basins across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Endorheic basin: A drainage system without an outlet to the sea, where water loss is by evaporation or subsurface seepage.
Diagenesis: Post-depositional chemical and physical alterations of sediments and pore fluids.
Hydrothermal fluids: Hot, mineral-laden waters derived from magmatic or deep crustal heat sources.
Halite dissolution: The process by which rock salt (NaCl) dissolves into circulating brines, modifying ionic ratios.
Isotopic fingerprinting: The use of stable or radiogenic isotope ratios to trace fluid origins and reaction histories.
References
- Understanding the spatial variation in lithium concentration of high Andean Salars using diagnostic factors. The Science of The Total Environment (2023).
- Lithium and brine geochemistry in the Qianjiang Formation of the Jianghan Basin, central China. Scientific Reports (2023).
- Hydrochemistry, Distribution and Formation of Lithium-Rich Brines in Salt Lakes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Minerals (2019).
- Groundwater in sedimentary basins as potential lithium resource: a global prospective study. Scientific Reports (2021).
- Lithium and Sr isotopic composition of salar deposits in the Central Andes across space and time: the Salar de Pozuelos, Argentina. Mineralium Deposita (2021).
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