Stable and radiogenic isotope composition of salar deposits in the Central Andes

The Central Andes of South America hosts the largest known lithium anomalies in a restricted area, but the primary lithium sources of the salar deposits and the mobilization process of lithium are still a matter of speculation. Chemical weathering at or near the surface and leaching in hydrothermal systems of the active magmatic arc are considered as the two main mechanisms of Li extraction from the source rock. The lithium and strontium isotope composition of typical salar deposits offer insights into the processes on how Li brine deposits in Andean evaporites are formed. Data from the Salar de Pozuelos indicate surface near chemical weathering in a cold and dry climate as the dominant mobilization process of Li, with evaporation being responsible for the enrichment. The Cenozoic ignimbrites are the favourite source rock for the Li, with subordinate additions from the Palaeozoic basement. The identification of the source rocks is supported by radiogenic Nd and Pb, and stable B isotope data from salar deposits. A comparison with other Li brine and salt deposits in the Altiplano-Puna Plateau and its western foothills places the Salar de Pozuelos as an endmember of Li solubilisation by surface near chemical weathering with only minor hydrothermal mobilization of Li.