Rapid Analysis of Muscovites on a Lithium Pegmatite Prospect by Handheld LIBS

Author:

Harmon Russell S.1ORCID,Wise Michael A.2,Curry Adam C.1ORCID,Mistele Joshua S.1,Mason Michael S.3,Grimac Zach3

Affiliation:

1. Department of Marine, Earth, & Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA

2. Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA

3. Piedmont Lithium, Inc., 5706 Dallas Cherryville Highway, Bessemer City, NC 28016, USA

Abstract

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a technology for compositional analysis that is particularly effective for light elements, particularly Li, which is a critical commodity for emerging green technologies. This study undertook analysis by handheld LIBS of muscovite from the drill core, outcrop, and soil on the Carolina Lithium Prospect (CLP) in Gaston County, North Carolina (USA), which lies within the Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt (CTSB). Abundances of the alkali elements Li, K, and Rb were determined for more than 130 muscovites from the Li-rich pegmatites to track the degree of pegmatite fractionation as a pathfinder for spodumene mineralization. Across the CTSB and including the CLP, muscovite Li contents vary over an order of magnitude, ranging from 0.04 to 0.74 wt. %, with their K/Rb ratios varying between 63 and 8, features that together document the highly evolved character of pegmatites within the CTSB district. On average, muscovite Li contents are greater in spodumene-bearing pegmatites at 0.21 ± 0.12 wt. % than for common quartz-feldspar pegmatites at 0.14 ± 0.08 wt. %. Although overlapping substantially in the middle portions of their distributions, muscovite K/Rb ratios are biased toward low values for spodumene-bearing pegmatites (X- = 21 ± 6) compared to those for quartz-feldspar pegmatites (X- = 33 ± 9). This study provides a framework for the use of LIBS analysis of muscovite in outcrop, drill core, and soil samples as an analytical tool for in-field and on-site geochemical analysis during Li pegmatite exploration and prospect evaluation.

Funder

North Carolina Policy Collaboratory

North Carolina State University

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Geology,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Reference74 articles.

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