Leduc Formation lithium brines (Alberta basin)
Central Alberta, Canada
OtherLi
- Type
- Sedimentary basin lithium brine (formation waters of Devonian reefs)
Formation waters of the Upper Devonian Leduc Formation reef complexes, with 5 to 140 mg/L lithium (62 mg/L on average), targeted for direct lithium extraction. The brines derive from evaporatively concentrated Devonian seawater and from evaporite dissolution, later modified by mixing, diagenesis and rock-water interaction. Three regional groups stand out: northwest (richest in lithium and most radiogenic), northeast and southeast.
δ7Li in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : Non précisé dans la publication
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.76 ‰ | 14 / 16 ‰ | 10 | formation brine Published mean of 10 samples (+14.76 ‰), range +14 to +16 ‰; regional origin of the samples not specified. Lighter than modern seawater (+31 ‰), close to Devonian seawater inferred from carbonates. No correlation with lithium content. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… |
87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : Non précisé dans la publication
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.72244 / 0.72898 | northwestern group brine Published range. The most radiogenic group, within the range of late calcite and dolomite cements; possible lithium input from deep Laramide-related fluids. 41 analyses in total (10 new), details in an appendix not included in the PDF. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… | ||
| 0.70869 / 0.7104 | northeastern group brine Published range. Close to Devonian seawater (0.7078 to 0.7090) and to basin matrix dolomites and shales. 41 analyses in total (10 new), details in an appendix not included in the PDF. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… | ||
| 0.70872 / 0.70885 | southeastern group brine Published range, very narrow. No interaction with rocks more radiogenic than Devonian shales. 41 analyses in total (10 new), details in an appendix not included in the PDF. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… |
δ18O in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-SMOW
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −0.1 / 4.8 ‰ | northwestern group brine Published range; 41 analyses in total (10 new), details in an appendix not included in the PDF. All brines follow an evaporation trend below seawater; the northeastern group trends towards the meteoric water line. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… | ||
| −7.2 / 2.4 ‰ | northeastern group brine Published range; 41 analyses in total (10 new), details in an appendix not included in the PDF. All brines follow an evaporation trend below seawater; the northeastern group trends towards the meteoric water line. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… | ||
| 1.7 / 13 ‰ | southeastern group brine Published range; 41 analyses in total (10 new), details in an appendix not included in the PDF. All brines follow an evaporation trend below seawater; the northeastern group trends towards the meteoric water line. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… |
δD in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-SMOW
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −44 / −42 ‰ | northwestern group brine Published range; 41 analyses in total (10 new), details in an appendix not included in the PDF. All brines follow an evaporation trend below seawater; the northeastern group trends towards the meteoric water line. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… | ||
| −104 / −54.3 ‰ | northeastern group brine Published range; 41 analyses in total (10 new), details in an appendix not included in the PDF. All brines follow an evaporation trend below seawater; the northeastern group trends towards the meteoric water line. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… | ||
| −68 / −49.8 ‰ | southeastern group brine Published range; 41 analyses in total (10 new), details in an appendix not included in the PDF. All brines follow an evaporation trend below seawater; the northeastern group trends towards the meteoric water line. | Butler et al. (2025), The Origin and Enrichment of Sedimentary Basin Lithium Brines: A Ca… |
Deposits of the same type
- Smackover Formation brines (East Texas) United States
- Haynesville Shale produced water United States
- Webster-Addie (Democrat) United States
- Ahles mine United States
- Inshow prospect United States
- Stinson mine United States
- Davis mine United States
- Shaw mine United States
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Leduc Formation lithium brines (Alberta basin), isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/saumures-lithiniferes-de-la-formation-de-leduc-bassin-de-l-alberta/ (accessed 2026-10-13).
@misc{isofind2026leducformationlithiumbrinesal,
title = {Leduc Formation lithium brines (Alberta basin), isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/saumures-lithiniferes-de-la-formation-de-leduc-bassin-de-l-alberta/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13}
}Updated : 2026-10-13