Characterization of Li in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field

Abstract The behavior of lithium during geothermal brine and host-rock interactions in the Salton Sea geothermal field is underconstrained. The lithium brine reservoir inventory is between 4 and 18 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent, with an even larger amount present within the reservoir rock mineral phases. Here, we present bulk-rock and brine Li concentration and δ7Li, and in situ Li concentrations of minerals from the California State 2-14 scientific drill core and commercial wells in the Salton Sea geothermal field to identify the mineral hosts of Li and constrain Li behavior during brine-rock interactions. Lithium contents are highest in chlorite (270–580 ppm, ~2,358 m), which encases pyrite, indicating that Li is fixed from the brine into the host rocks during hydrothermal alteration. Lithium abundances in chlorite decrease with depth (70–100 ppm, ~2,882 m), as does whole-rock Li content, whereas whole-rock δ7Li increases (δ7Li = 2.0–4.3‰, ~2,485-m depth; δ7Li = 4.3–7.9‰ from ~2,819 to ~2,882 m). This change in behavior of Li at ~2,500 m suggests temperature dependent partitioning of Li in chlorite; Li becomes more incompatible in chlorite at depths >~2,500 m, corresponding to ~325°C in the reservoir. The brines have δ7Li = 3.7 to 4.7‰ and calculated isotopic fractionation factors between the brine and the host rock agree with a change in Li behavior at ~325°C. Simple closed-system batch modeling does not describe the geothermal system, suggesting open-system behavior of Li within the Salton Sea geothermal field.