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| Type: | Resource | |
| Storage: | The size of this resource is 67.7 KB | |
| Created: | Mar 07, 2026 at 5:30 a.m. (UTC) | |
| Last updated: | May 13, 2026 at 2:14 p.m. (UTC) (Metadata update) | |
| Published date: | May 13, 2026 at 2:14 p.m. (UTC) | |
| DOI: | 10.4211/hs.b0b884a33f9b40c685c424cca5f6c36e | |
| Citation: | See how to cite this resource |
| Sharing Status: | Published |
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| Views: | 122 |
| Downloads: | 25 |
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| Comments: | 1 comment |
Abstract
Lithium (Li) rich brines in arid continental basins are critical resources for the global energy transition, yet the processes governing extreme Li enrichment remain debated. Evaporative concentration is widely invoked as the dominant mechanism, but the role of long-term crustal residence has not been quantitatively constrained. Here, we integrate Li concentrations and isotopes (δ⁷Li), uranium activity ratios (²³⁴U/²³⁸U), noble gas systematics (³He/⁴He, ⁴He, ²⁰Ne, ⁴⁰Ar), and chlorofluorocarbon tracers from recharge waters, transitional aquifers, and central brines of the Salar de Atacama, Chile. Radiogenic ⁴He concentrations exceed 2 × 10⁻⁶ ccSTP g⁻¹ in evolved brines, while R/Ra values decrease to <0.03, indicating dominant crustal helium accumulation and negligible mantle input. Assuming upper crust production rates of 1–3 × 10⁻¹² ccSTP g⁻¹ yr⁻¹, these concentrations imply apparent residence times of ~0.5–2 Myr. Uranium activity ratios progressively approach secular equilibrium along basin flow paths, recording sustained water–rock interaction. Li concentrations increase by more than two orders of magnitude toward hydrologically isolated brine domains, yet δ⁷Li remains comparatively restricted, indicating early-stage fractionation followed by conservative concentration. The decoupling of Li enrichment from mantle helium signatures and the conservative behavior of ²⁰Ne demonstrate that Li rich brines form through multimillion-year crustal storage within a structurally open but hydrologically closed basin. Evaporation concentrates solutes, but time integrated crustal interaction governs the magnitude of enrichment. These results provide quantitative temporal constraints on mineral resource formation in continental salars.
Subject Keywords
Coverage
Spatial
Temporal
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How to Cite
This resource is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution CC BY.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Comments
Tanveer Dar 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Lithium, Uranium, and Noble Gas Dataset – Salar de Atacama
ReplyDescription
This dataset contains dissolved lithium concentrations and isotopes (δ⁷Li), uranium concentrations and activity ratios (²³⁴U/²³⁸U), noble gas concentrations (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe), and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) measurements from groundwater, surface water, transitional aquifers, and brine samples collected in the Salar de Atacama basin, Chile.
Variables and Units
Li (mg/L) – Dissolved lithium concentration
δ⁷Li (‰, relative to L-SVEC) – Lithium isotope composition
²³⁸U (ng/g) – Uranium concentration
²³⁴U/²³⁸U – Uranium activity ratio (dimensionless)
³He, ⁴He, ²⁰Ne, ²²Ne, ³⁶Ar, ⁴⁰Ar, ⁸⁴Kr, ¹³⁰Xe (ccSTP g⁻¹) – Dissolved noble gas concentrations
R/Rₐ – Helium isotope ratio relative to air (Rₐ = 1.39 × 10⁻⁶)
Specific Conductivity (mS/cm)
Temperature (°C)
DO (%) – Dissolved oxygen
CH₄, CO₂ (ccSTP/g)
bbreviations
GW – Groundwater
SW – Surface water
TPB – Transition zone brine
ASW – Air-saturated water
⁴He* – Radiogenic helium (atmospheric component removed using ²⁰Ne correction)
Analytical Notes
Radiogenic helium (⁴He*) was calculated by subtracting atmospheric contributions using measured ²⁰Ne concentrations. Residence times were estimated assuming upper continental crust production rates of (1–3) × 10⁻¹² ccSTP g⁻¹ yr⁻¹.
Contact
Tanveer Dar
Department of Earth, Geographic and Climatic Sciences
University of Massachusetts Amherst
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