New Progress in Exploration and Development of Global Li-Be-Nb-Ta Resources

This is an article in the field of mining engineering. Li-Be-Nb-Ta are not only the important highly-demanded rare metals, but also key minerals in emerging strategic industries. They have both commonality and individuality in mineralization mechanism and R&D with new progress. This article aims to comprehensively and accurately measure and evaluate the global resource and reserve data of Li-Be-Nb-Ta, and timely reflect new developments in exploration and development and technological progress. The multi-cycle metallogenic theory of granite pegmatite has made important breakthrough in exploration, the technical output of lithium deposits in South American salt lakes is approaching, the potential for lithium extraction and storage increase in clay rocks and geothermal brines is increasing, the alkaline-peralkaline volcanic intrusive pegmatite type Nb-Ta mineralization has been highlighted in the Americas and the Qinghai-Xizang region, and the exploration of Li-Be deposits in mainland China has made important breakthroughs. The construction of the resource base for Nb-Ta-REE in northwest Hubei can learn from the progress and experience of enterprise level exploration and testing such as Avalon Rare Metals Company in North America. Based on the analysis of 1396 lithium beryllium niobium tantalum deposits and typical cases in the world, this article proposes that multi stage thermal events and multi cycle magmatic differentiation and melting may be the key conditions for large to super large deposits.