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In recent years, numerous countries worldwide have initiated lithium (Li) exploration as a key strategy. In Iran, the Ghahavand Plain, situated in the center of the Hamadan region, has been identified as a prominent site for lithium exploration. A key feature of the Ghahavand Plain sediments is that they contain lithium-bearing minerals, zabuyelite (lithium carbonate) and psedoeucrptite which are rare Lithium aluminum silicate mineral typically associated with Lithium-rich pegmatites. The Li concentration in this area varies from 30 to 102 ppm, with an average of 55.1 ppm. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios, ranging from 0.7078 to 0.7103, align with those found in the Alvand granites and the Eocene-Oligocene volcanic rocks, and Oligo-Miocene limestone in the surrounding area. In addition, the chemical index of alteration (CIA), averaging 59.7, indicates an intermediate to felsic rock source for the sediments. The low Ga/Rb ratio (0.18 to 0.27) and high Sr/Cu ratio (8.9 to 710) confirms a cool-arid climate with low temperatures and minimal precipitation conditions during the sedimentation. Furthermore, the lower V/(V + Ni) ratio, ranging from 0.53 to 0.76, suggests a weakly oxidizing environment. Several samples from the northern region of the Ghahavand Plain have elevated Lithium concentrations, in the range of 71 to 102 ppm which is close to the lower limit of lithium-bearing deposits worldwide. Therefore, this area could be considered a potentially promising site for future lithium exploration in Iran. in addition, this study highlights the distribution of lithium within the clay plain in western Iran, and the interest in evaluating resource and tracing weathering.
Daneshvar et al. (Mon,) studied this question.