Lithium: Exploration for lithium from brine

Our course focuses on geological and hydrogeochemical aspects involved in finding and extracting lithium from saline brines. Battery applications today make up 70% of the global lithium supply. This proportion can only increase in our low emissions future.

Course curriculum

A message from the instructor

How to use this course

What is lithium and why is it important?

How does a lithium ion battery work?

Lithium sources, suppliers, market trends and prices

Processing methods and costs

Background readings and Links for Module 1 - The Lithium Undustry

Test your understanding of module 1

Lithium enrichment - General principles across hard rock and brine focused accumulations

Enrichment concepts in high-altitude cold-desert salars - the hydrology of capillary aggradation or degradation?

Background readings for Module 2 - Lithium enrichment in brines

Test your understanding of module 2

Salar de Atacama, Chile, Regional setting

Salar de Atacama - What lies beneath - halokinesis and volcanism?

Salar de Atacama, lithium in the sump hydrogeology

Salar de Atacama, Chemistry of the solar concentration ponds

Water problems in Salar de Atacama and lithium brine possibilities in Salar de Maricunga, Chile

Geology and hydrology of the lithium salars in Argentina - Salar de Hombre Muerto

Geology and hydrology of the lithium salars in Argentina - Salar de Olaroz and Cauchari

Geology and hydrology of the lithium salars in Argentina - Salar de Rincón

Background readings and Links for Module 3 - The Lithium Crescent

Test your understanding of module 3

Contrasting hydrologies in the Zabuye Basin, China: Why does a lithium carbonate salt form naturally in this high altitude lake, subject to climate change and water level fluctuations?

Zabuye Lake - Pan geology and brine chemistry in a cold high altitude saline carbonate lake - How seasonal density stratification drives the precipitation of lithium carbonate

Importance of topography in lithium extraction plants in intermontane settings in the Himalayas

Background readings and links for Module 4 - Lithium Brines in China

Lithium extraction in the Qaidam Basin, China

Test your understanding of module 4 - Lithium from Brine in China

Lithium brines in the Clayton Valley, Nevada

Background readings and links for Module 5 - Lithium in Playa brines in North America

Test your understanding of module 5

How porosity and permeability, not the solid matrix, control the quality of the resource

Background readings and links for Module 6 - Resources estimates of a brine

Test your understanding of module 6 - Resource estimates of a brine

Sediment-hosted lithium lithium - Hectorite in Hector, California, Tainiolite in the McDermitt Caldera, Nevada and Jadarite in the Jadar Valley, Serbia

Geothermal brines

Oilfield brines in sedimentary basins

Background readings and links for Module 7 - Lithium brines in other saline systems

Test your understanding of module 7

A summary of exploration and development criteria for Lithium brine deposits

A future perspective

Congrats! Here's what next (and before you go, a few more resources you may like) ....

Before you go...

All Access Pricing

One Time
USD 495

  • Access to all course modules and chapters

  • Digital copy of Evaporites: A compendium

  • Listing of all references used in the course

  • Copies of other relevant literature

  • Communication with the course presenter

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Meet your Instructor

Executive Director - Technical Services

John Warren

John Warren has more than 30 years of experience in the petroleum and minerals industries. John specialises in rock and brine characterisation problems in salt, potash, lithium salts, base metal and hydrocarbon exploration programmes. He has been involved in training and technical studies conducted by various companies, including ADNOC, Asia-Pacific Potash, BHP Billiton Petroleum, BHP Billiton Resources, Chevron International, Exxon International, Fortescue Metals, Homestake, Husky Oil, MMG, Nexen, NIOC, Nutrien, Pasminco, PTTEP, Santos, Saudi Aramco, Shell International, Statoil, Vietnam Petroleum Institute, and others. He has also served as a technical expert in evaporites for the AAPG, BBC, IHRDC, and New World Horizons. In addition, John has served on the World Bank Panel of Experts and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Petroleum Geology.

jkwarren@saltworkconsultants.com