Tools and Workflows for Grassroots Li–Cs–Ta (LCT) Pegmatite Exploration

Abstract

The increasing demand for green technology and battery metals necessitates a review of geological exploration techniques for Li–Cs–Ta (LCT) pegmatites, which is applicable to the work of mining companies. This paper reviews the main controls of LCT pegmatite genesis relevant to mineral exploration programs and presents a workflow of grassroots exploration techniques, supported by examples from central Europe and Africa. Geological exploration commonly begins with information gathering, desktop studies and Geographic Information System (GIS) data reviews. Following the identification of prospective regional areas, initial targets are verified in the field by geological mapping and geochemical sampling. Detailed mineralogical analysis and geochemical sampling of rock, soil and stream sediments represent the most important tools for providing vectors to LCT pegmatites, since the interpretation of mineralogical phases, deportment and liberation characteristics along with geochemical K/Rb, Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf metallogenic markers can detect highly evolved rocks enriched in incompatible elements of economic interest. The importance of JORC (Joint Ore Reserves Committee) 2012 guidelines with regards to obtaining geological, mineralogical and drilling data is discussed and contextualised, with the requirement of treating LCT pegmatites as industrial mineral deposits.

Editorial for Special Issue “Novel Methods and Applications for Mineral Exploration”

“…The paper by Steiner [10] provides a comprehensive review of the main controls for the formation of Li-Cs-Ta pegmatite deposits. The review recommends an optimized grassroots exploration workflow and suggests the methods that can be used in this exploration.…”

An Exploration Study of the Kagenfels and Natzwiller Granites, Northern Vosges Mountains, France: A Combined Approach of Stream Sediment Geochemistry and Automated Mineralogy

“…However, whilst the 22 elements of the analytical suite seemed adequate for the exploration of base metal mineralisation at the time, resistate elements, such as Sn, and also W and Nb, are underestimated by the weak digest and plasma emission technique [5]. Furthermore, the 1980s analytical suite did not contain pathfinder elements (K, Rb, Zr, Hf, Li, Cs, Ta) that are utilised on a routine basis to assess the prospectivity of rare metal granites and pegmatites [26]. For example, K/Rb, Nb/Ta, and Zr/Hf ratios are commonly utilised to support the determination of magmatic fractionation trends, magmatic-hydrothermal interaction during fractional crystallisation, and the enrichment of incompatible elements of possible economic value [27][28][29].…”

Investigation of Pegmatite Mineral Applicability from the Terek Ceramic Deposit in Kyrgyzstan for Production of Porcelain and Earthenware

“…Rare-Element (REL) is a low temperature and pressure; 5) Miarolitic (MI) is a shallow level [2]. Pegmatite was defined as an igneous rock of predominantly granitic composition, possessing properties such as: extremely coarse and syste-matically variable crystals size, abundance of crystals with skeletal, graphic or other strongly directional growth, and prominent spatial zonation of mineral assemblages, including monomineralic zones [3].…”