Deep lithium-bearing brines of the Jiangling Basin
Hubei, south-western Jianghan Basin (Jingzhou), China
OtherLi (K, B, Br)
- Type
- Deep brines of a continental evaporite basin
Brines from 1600 to 4200 m in Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene aquifers (Honghuatao, Shashi and Xin'gouzui formations), rich in lithium (5 to 100 mg/L). Lithium comes from leaching of reservoir rocks (sandstones, Palaeocene basalts) at 70 to 200 °C and from evaporite dissolution, under a high geothermal gradient linked to volcanism. Indicative coordinates.
δ7Li in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : Non précisé dans la publication
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.9 ± 0.7 ‰ | 14 / 15.7 ‰ | 4 | sedimentary brine of the Xin'gouzui Formation (Lower Eocene, boreholes GK1 and GK2) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 samples, Table 2. 58 to 100 mg/L Li, 3571 to 3743 m. Lighter than Yangtze water (+21.4 ‰): rock leaching and evaporite dissolution. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| 13 ‰ | 1 | brine in Palaeocene basalt of the Shashi Formation (borehole SK4) One analysis, Table 2. 54 mg/L Li, 3972 m; unradiogenic Sr inherited from the basalt. Lighter than Yangtze water (+21.4 ‰): rock leaching and evaporite dissolution. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… | |
| 9.1 ± 0.4 ‰ | 8.6 / 9.4 ‰ | 3 | saline water of the Honghuatao Formation (Upper Cretaceous, borehole WK1) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2. 5.4 to 5.9 mg/L Li, highest Cl/Br: stronger salt dissolution. Lighter than Yangtze water (+21.4 ‰): rock leaching and evaporite dissolution. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| 10.2 ± 1.3 ‰ | 9.3 / 11.2 ‰ | 2 | oilfield brine of the Honghuatao Formation (Upper Cretaceous, boreholes SH9 and SH10) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2. 49 to 76 mg/L Li, 3985 to 4191 m. Lighter than Yangtze water (+21.4 ‰): rock leaching and evaporite dissolution. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| 17.1 ± 1.7 ‰ | 15.3 / 19.3 ‰ | 4 | oilfield brine of the Xin'gouzui Formation (Lower Eocene, boreholes S32CZ, L23, L72 and L76x) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 samples, Table 2. 11 to 55 mg/L Li, 1124 to 2351 m. Lighter than Yangtze water (+21.4 ‰): rock leaching and evaporite dissolution. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 987
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.71065 ± 0.00037 | 0.710325 / 0.710971 | 4 | sedimentary brine of the Xin'gouzui Formation (Lower Eocene, boreholes GK1 and GK2) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 samples, Table 2. Value taken from Yu et al. (2021) by the same authors, not checked in the original article. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| 0.706926 | 1 | brine in Palaeocene basalt of the Shashi Formation (borehole SK4) One analysis, Table 2. Value taken from Yu et al. (2021) by the same authors, not checked in the original article. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… | |
| 0.71023 ± 0.000007 | 0.710223 / 0.710236 | 3 | saline water of the Honghuatao Formation (Upper Cretaceous, borehole WK1) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2. Value taken from Yu et al. (2021) by the same authors, not checked in the original article. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| 0.712313 ± 0.000237 | 0.712145 / 0.71248 | 2 | oilfield brine of the Honghuatao Formation (Upper Cretaceous, boreholes SH9 and SH10) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| 0.710343 ± 0.000388 | 0.709885 / 0.710679 | 4 | oilfield brine of the Xin'gouzui Formation (Lower Eocene, boreholes S32CZ, L23, L72 and L76x) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 samples, Table 2. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
δ18O in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-SMOW
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 ± 1 ‰ | 3.9 / 5.7 ‰ | 4 | sedimentary brine of the Xin'gouzui Formation (Lower Eocene, boreholes GK1 and GK2) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 samples, Table 2. Value taken from Yu et al. (2021) by the same authors, not checked in the original article. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| 1 ‰ | 1 | brine in Palaeocene basalt of the Shashi Formation (borehole SK4) One analysis, Table 2. Value taken from Yu et al. (2021) by the same authors, not checked in the original article. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… | |
| −9.3 ± 0.1 ‰ | −9.4 / −9.3 ‰ | 3 | saline water of the Honghuatao Formation (Upper Cretaceous, borehole WK1) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2. Value taken from Yu et al. (2021) by the same authors, not checked in the original article. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| −2.7 ± 3 ‰ | −4.8 / −0.6 ‰ | 2 | oilfield brine of the Honghuatao Formation (Upper Cretaceous, boreholes SH9 and SH10) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| −1.9 ± 1.8 ‰ | −3.3 / 0.7 ‰ | 4 | oilfield brine of the Xin'gouzui Formation (Lower Eocene, boreholes S32CZ, L23, L72 and L76x) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 samples, Table 2. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
δD in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-SMOW
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −43.3 ± 3.8 ‰ | −47.9 / −38.6 ‰ | 4 | sedimentary brine of the Xin'gouzui Formation (Lower Eocene, boreholes GK1 and GK2) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 samples, Table 2. Value taken from Yu et al. (2021) by the same authors, not checked in the original article. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| −31.8 ‰ | 1 | brine in Palaeocene basalt of the Shashi Formation (borehole SK4) One analysis, Table 2. Value taken from Yu et al. (2021) by the same authors, not checked in the original article. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… | |
| −70.9 ± 1 ‰ | −72 / −70 ‰ | 3 | saline water of the Honghuatao Formation (Upper Cretaceous, borehole WK1) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2. Value taken from Yu et al. (2021) by the same authors, not checked in the original article. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| −46.5 ± 8.6 ‰ | −52.6 / −40.4 ‰ | 2 | oilfield brine of the Honghuatao Formation (Upper Cretaceous, boreholes SH9 and SH10) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
| −39.5 ± 5.3 ‰ | −46.1 / −33.5 ‰ | 4 | oilfield brine of the Xin'gouzui Formation (Lower Eocene, boreholes S32CZ, L23, L72 and L76x) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 samples, Table 2. | Yu et al. (2024), Factors controlling lithium accumulation in brines from Upper Cretaceou… |
Deposits of the same type
- Datangpo-type manganese (Gaolou, Minle, Zhenxing) China
- Anning (carbonate-hosted clay-type lithium) China
- Dezong Mahai (Balun Mahai basin clay-type lithium) China
- Lithium-rich salt lakes of the Qaidam Basin (Dongtai, Xitai, Yiliping, Qarhan) China
- Kinta Valley Malaisie
- Dunde China
- Huoshaoyun China
- Zankan China
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Deep lithium-bearing brines of the Jiangling Basin, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/saumures-lithiniferes-profondes-du-bassin-de-jiangling/ (accessed 2026-10-13).
@misc{isofind2026deeplithiumbearingbrinesofthe,
title = {Deep lithium-bearing brines of the Jiangling Basin, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/saumures-lithiniferes-profondes-du-bassin-de-jiangling/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13}
}Updated : 2026-10-13