[S-MP49_1PO1] Nano-Analyses of Natures and Origins of Earth and Planetary Solids

[SMP49-P04] The lithium existence form in a lithium ore deposit

*Masaya SUZUKI¹, Yoshiaki KON¹, Terumi EJIMA¹, Eri HIRABAYASHI¹, Takumi SATOU¹, Akira OOWADA¹, Tetsuichi TAKAGI¹, Katsuhiro TSUKIMURA¹, Takayuki SAWAKI¹, Takayoshi MURAKAMI², Masayuki MOTOORI² (1.AIST, 2.JOGMEC)

Keywords:lithium, ore deposit, mineral

In the ore deposit containing lithium, Spodumene, Petalite, Lepidolite, etc. are known as a lithium mineral, but these minerals are not contained in the lithium ore deposit examined this time. So, in this research, the result analyzed using XRD and SEM+EDS is released.In the ore deposit containing lithium in this time, it roughly divides of a white portion and a portion of ashes green. From the result of XRD, it mainly becomes a white portion from Searlesite(NaBSiO₅(OH)₂), Calcite(CaCO₃), and Orthoclase(KAlSi₃O₈), and the mineral containing lithium is not shown. On the other hand into the portion of ashes green, Calcite(CaCO₃), Orthoclase(KAlSi₃O₈), Illite(K(Al,Mg,Fe)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀), Rozenite(FeSO₄4H₂O), and Cryolitionite(Li₃Na₃Al₂F₁₂) are contained was obtained. Since the peak of various minerals had appeared, it could not declare that Cryolitionite existed clearly, but it was suggested that Cryolitionite may exist as a lithium content mineral.Next, from the results of SEM+EDS analysis, in the white part, Calcite and Orthoclase were contained at about 10-100 micrometers, and Sealesite existed in it at those circumferences. And in the green gray part, Orthoclase, Calcite, Illite, Rozenite were contained at about 10-30 micrometers, and the particle with a size of 1 micrometer or less existed in those circumferences. Although measurement of Li was not completed in analysis of EDS, it was checked that F is contained in the analysis of these microscopic particles.From the above result, it was surmised that the lithium content mineral examined this time was Cryolitionite.