Dezong Mahai (Balun Mahai basin clay-type lithium)
Qinghai, Qaidam Basin, China
OtherLi (B)
- Type
- Sedimentary clay-type lithium in a salt lake
Lithium-bearing clays (50 to 100 µg/g Li) deposited in shallow, weakly oxidising brackish water in the Mahai basin. Lithium comes from weathering of silicates in the surrounding ranges, carried by the Yuka River, and from deep Ca-Cl waters; strontium points to a source in shallow over-pressured brines and Yuka River water. Indicative coordinates.
δ7Li in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : L-SVEC
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.93 ± 3.28 ‰ | 6.68 / 15.48 ‰ | 6 | lithium-bearing claystone (drill holes ZK7206 and ZK7606) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from the 6 samples in Table 1. The text gives +6.86 to +15.48 ‰ and a mean of +10.96 ‰, consistent with 6.86 rather than the 6.68 value in the table (ZK7606-3); the discussion also quotes +7.12 to +15.48 ‰. | Ma et al. (2024), Sedimentary Environment and Source Analysis of Sedimentary Lithium Depo… |
87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 987
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.713161 ± 0.000739 | 0.712387 / 0.714058 | 6 | lithium-bearing claystone (drill holes ZK7206 and ZK7606) Mean and standard deviation of the 6 samples in Table 1 (mean identical to the published 0.713161). The text gives 0.711132 as the minimum, a value not found in the table. | Ma et al. (2024), Sedimentary Environment and Source Analysis of Sedimentary Lithium Depo… |
Deposits of the same type
- Lithium-rich salt lakes of the Qaidam Basin (Dongtai, Xitai, Yiliping, Qarhan) China
- Dunde China
- Huoshaoyun China
- Anning (carbonate-hosted clay-type lithium) China
- Datangpo-type manganese (Gaolou, Minle, Zhenxing) China
- Zankan China
- Deep lithium-bearing brines of the Jiangling Basin China
- Kinta Valley Malaisie
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Dezong Mahai (Balun Mahai basin clay-type lithium), isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/dezong-mahai-lithium-argileux-du-bassin-de-balun-mahai/ (accessed 2026-10-13).
@misc{isofind2026dezongmahaibalunmahaibasincla,
title = {Dezong Mahai (Balun Mahai basin clay-type lithium), isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/dezong-mahai-lithium-argileux-du-bassin-de-balun-mahai/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13}
}Updated : 2026-10-13