Prospect Analysis Of Comprehensive Utilization Of Lithium Resources Associated With Sedimentary Bauxite In Pingguo Area,Western Of Guangxi

Lithium,a kind of strategic rare metal,has important application value in various emerging industries.There are three types of lithium ore found in the world:pegmatite type,salt-lake type and clay type.The clay-type lithium deposit has the advantages of large deposit scale,stable distribution and low development cost.This type of lithium resource is often concentrated in coal seam or the sedimentary type bauxite ore-bearing rock series.Western Guangxi is the main concentration area of sedimentary bauxite with large scale and good continuity.Lithium enrichment is common in sedimentary bauxite-bearing rock series,especially enriched obviously is in sedimentary bauxite series of Pingguo area,western Guangxi.The average grade of lithium oxide in the middle and upper part of the ore-bearing rock series is 0.15%.It has reached the comprehensive utilization standard of associated lithium（w（Li₂O）≥0.05%）,and can be used as associated ore to improve the comprehensive utilization value of bauxite.Through field investigation,it is found that the lithology of overlying and underlying strata of sedimentary bauxite-bearing rock series in the Pingguo area of western Guangxi is limestone,and the ore-bearing rock series can be divided into 5 layers from bottom to top,which are basal conglomerate layer,Fe-Al layer,bauxite layer,bauxite layer and carbonaceous mudstone layer.The content of geochemical elements in the samples were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass analysis.The data showed that the content of lithium in the sedimentary bauxite ore-bearing rock series decreased f gradually rom top to bottom.Lithium mainly existed in the carbonaceous mudstone and bauxite in the middle and upper part of the sedimentary bauxite ore-bearing rock series.In order to explore the best extraction method of lithium associated with sedimentary bauxite in this area,lithium extraction experiments were conducted.In the experiments,variable conditions of sample roasting temperature gradient,leaching solution type,and concentration gradient were set.The results showed that the optimum leaching conditions for lithium associated with sedimentary bauxite ore-bearing series in this area are as follows:roasting samples at 600℃for 2 h,selecting 30%sulfuric acid as the leaching solution,solid-liquid ratio of 1:5,reacting at 60℃and shaking 200 r/min for 2 h.The leaching rate can reach99%under the conditions listed above.According to the actual supply and demand situation,the demand for lithium in China’s new energy industry is growing quickly,exceeding the supply of lithiumproduced independently in China.The Hubbert model is used to predict the future production of Chinese lithium resources in China.The results showed that the production of Chinese lithium resources will reach the maximum in 2048,which is about 1.15×10⁶ t LCE（Lithium Carbonate Equivalent）.According to the historical demand data for lithium resources from various industries in China,the lithium battery industry has seen the most rapid growth in lithium demand in recent years.According to the growth rate of lithium demand in various industries,the lithium demand in the next few years is predicted to be 1.13×10⁶ t LCE in 2030 respectively.The analysis of the historical lithium price in each year shows that the lithium price is predicted to decline in the short term in the future.Based on the exploration data,it is estimated that the associated lithium resource of sedimentary bauxite in Pingguo area of western Guangxi is about 9.98×10⁵ t LCE,which indicates a large resource potential.When alumina is extracted from bauxite by acid method,it can be recovered by lithium leaching,which has great feasibility and good comprehensive utilization prospect.