Occurrence State and Extraction of Lithium from Jinyinshan Clay-Type Lithium Deposit, Southern Hubei: Novel Blank Roasting–Acid Leaching Processes
Source abstract
Abstract
Addressing the technological bottlenecks in the efficient utilization of clay-type Li deposits in China, this study systematically investigates Li occurrence states and develops clean extraction processes using the Jinyinshan clay-type Li deposit in southern Hubei as a case study. The research aims to provide technical guidance for subsequent geological exploration and development of such deposits. Analytical techniques, including AMICS, EPMA, and LA-ICP-MS, reveal that Li primarily occurs in structurally bound forms within cookeite (82.55% of total Li), illite (6.65%), and rectorite (5.20%), with mineral particle sizes concentrated in fine-grained fractions (<45 μm). Leveraging process mineralogical insights, two industrially adaptable blank roasting–acid leaching processes were innovatively developed. Process I employs a full flow of blank roasting–hydrochloric acid leaching–Li-Al separation–Ca/Mg removal–concentration for Li precipitation–three-stage counter-current washing. Optimizing roasting temperature (600 °C), hydrochloric acid concentration (18 wt%), and leaching parameters achieved a 92.37% Li leaching rate. Multi-step purification yielded lithium carbonate with >99% Li2CO3 purity and an overall Li recovery of 73.89%. Process II follows blank roasting–sulfuric acid leaching–Al removal via alum precipitation–Al/Fe removal–freeze crystallization for sodium sulfate removal–Ca/Mg removal–concentration for Li precipitation–three-stage counter-current washing. Parameter optimization and freezing impurity removal achieved an 89.11% Li leaching rate, producing lithium carbonate with >98.85% Li2CO3 content alongside by-products like crude sodium chloride and ammonium alum. Both processes enable resource utilization of Al-rich residues, with the hydrochloric acid-based method excelling in stability and the sulfuric acid-based approach offering superior by-product valorization potential. This low-energy, high-yield clean extraction system provides critical theoretical and technical foundations for scaling clay-type Li deposit utilization, advancing green Li extraction and industrial chain development.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Extraction and Separation Processes · Radioactive element chemistry and processing · Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
State Key Laboratory of Deep Earth and Mineral Exploration, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
MNR Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Resource Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Fourth Geological Team of Hubei Geological Bureau, Xianning 437100, China
Hubei Geological Research Laboratory, Wuhan 430034, China
Funding
National Key Research and Development Program · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Geological Survey Project grants from the China Geological Survey
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