Mineralization comparisons of the major pegmatite type spodumene deposits and their prospecting potential in West China

This paper aims at exploring the metallogenic background and characteristics of pegmatite type lithium deposits and guiding the exploration and evaluation of rare metal mineral resources including Li and Be in West China in the future. The authors summarized the metallogenic characteristics of several major large-scale and superlarge pegmatite type spodumene deposits in West China, and briefly compared the metallogenic background and characteristics of these deposits. The results show that the pegmatite type spodumene deposits in West China are located in similar geotectonic positions, mostly in the fold orogenic belts, with centralized zonation distribution. The rare metal mineralization was all developed in the pegmatite vein in the late magmatic rock, and the surrounding rocks were a set of metamorphic sandstone, slate and schist. The ore-bearing properties of pegmatite vein are also related with the structural fractures and closure conditions. The metallogenic epoch is from late Indosinian to early Yanshanian, and spodumene-bearing deposits in different areas also show their particularities. For example, the mineral assemblage of Keotohai is the most complex, and followed by Jiajika. In the future, the exploration should focus on the lithium metallogenic belt, and the pegmatite type lithium deposit should be the primary exploration object. Meanwhile, we should take the existing typical deposits as the model to find the most effective combination of prospecting technology and methods according to local conditions, to provide a basis for further prospecting.