Abstract
A method for the determination of lithium in silicate materials by atomic absorption photometry is described. The sensitivity of this method is 1 ppm Li and the relative standard deviation in the 10–100 ppm Li range is 3 per cent. Sixteen minerals and 96 sedimentary rocks have been analysed for lithium. Micaceous rocks (sandstone, graywackes) and the clay minerals of shales usually contain the highest lithium concentration of sedimentary deposits. The average of sandstones (12 samples) is 20 ppm Li and of graywackes is 58 ppm Li. Two sandstones from the lower Permian (Ober-Rotliegendes) have notably high lithium content (930 and 1190 ppm). Their quartzes contain 600 and 575 ppm Li respectively. The following lithium data are averages for pelitic sedimentary rocks: 60 ppm Li (8 samples) in shales from the continental shelf and 90 ppm Li (11 samples) in deep sea clays (Atlantic ocean). A comparison between marine and freshwater sediments shows an enrichment of lithium in the marine deposits (117 ppm Li in 16 specimens) compared to samples of freshwater origin (72 ppm Li in 9 specimens). A lithium determination helps in discriminating a marine from a freshwater environment of clay formation. The average lithium content of carbonate rocks is 7,5 ppm (10 samples).
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