PEPR Subsurface, common property – Massif Central – Subtask : Lithium deposit

The French Massif Central has significant potential for lithium, both in the form of hard rock deposits associated with granites and rare metal pegmatites formed during the Variscan orogeny, and in the form of groundwater associated with geothermal fields. In addition, there may be untapped lithium potential in the sediments of the Tertiary basins, resulting from the weathering and erosion of the Variscan basement.

The “Lithium Mineralization Systems” sub-task of the PC13 – Massif Central project, part of the PEPR Sous-sol, bien commun research program led by the CNRS and BRGM, aims to improve scientific knowledge of the geochemical cycle of lithium, from:
♦ high-temperature Variscan magmatic systems involved in the genesis of granites and rare metal pegmatites,
♦ post-Variscan intermediate-temperature hydrothermal systems leading to the formation of lithium-enriched groundwater,
♦ to low-temperature weathering, erosion, and sedimentation systems and their potential to generate lithium-rich supergene deposits in basins.