Lithium may be deposited under supervolcano

Lithium concentration was found in floor of crater lake of Oregon

Supervolcanoes are similar to common volcano, however, they are far more superior in the term of volcano-activity. For example, three of the most superior supervolcanoes in the world are located in Indonesia and they are Toba, Tambora and Krakatau. These supervolcanos had erupted long time ago and they have been providing rich-nutrient for the nearby ground. But, what makes these supervolcanoes becoming interesting?

Recently, researchers from Stanford University were able to locate deposits of lithium in supervolcanoes. They published their study on nature suggesting that the Lithium actually is deposited in caldera basins in form of rhyolite magmas. This finding suggested us about the possibility of vast natural resources in caldera created by the eruption of supervolcanoes. But how we can mine this metal?

Caldera is produced by volcanic activities such massive eruptions which had happened years ago. The eruptions pushed the magmas beneath the volcanoes so they will be pushed off the volcanoes. But, for supervolcanoes, as we mentioned previously, their eruptions are far more superior than common volcanoes. To be precise, it is 10,000 more than Hawaiian volcanoes. This means that mineral resources beneath the supervolcanoes must have been pushed off the underground. As a result, the activities formed soil sedimentation for layers if the eruption happened for several times.
So, what can be mined from the sedimentation?

Mostly, we could say that the soil of caldera is composed by many rich-nutrients in particular for biological activities such as carbon-rich soil. However, the finding found in Crater Lake in Oregon was soil-deposited Lithium(http://news.stanford.edu/2017/08/16/supervolcanoes-key-americas-electric-future/). Interestingly, the common chemical compounds providing by the volcanoes are mostly Sulphur. For instance, in Indonesia, Kawah Ijen crater lake has been mined by local citizens for the Sulphur. However, the Sulphur is in form of banded sediments and as subaqueous molten body on the floor of the crater [1].

On the other hand, the Stanford researchers stated that the depositions of Lithium are represented in form of pegmatites, brines, and clays suggesting the location is in the floor of the crater [2]. The process of sedimentation in volcanoes were occurred during the process of crystallization of water-rich and most of them are happened during the formation of rhyolitic lava or magma. Based on their findings, the indicators of determining the concentration of the Lithium itself lies on the composition of the rhylolitic magma which is the Zircon concentration. The more Zircon you have, the least Lithium you get, and vice versa.

Therefore, the possibility of Lithium sedimentation is presence in the floor of crater of volcanoes particularly in caldera of supervolcanoes. So, it is possible that Indonesia may have Lithium resources? The possibility is yes. This possibility was based on the research conducted by Wataru Tanikawa in the mud of Lapindo Brantas.

To be concluded, the sedimentation of crater has high possibility of Lithium deposits specifically the caldera created by supervolcanoes. This conclusion was based on the research conducted in the Oregon Lake. But, more importantly, why Lithium? Find more information on the next article.

Reference

[1] P. Delmelle, A. Bernard, M. Kusakabe, T. P. Fischer and B. Takano, "Geochemistry of the magmatic-hydrothermal system of Kawah Ijen volcano, East Java, Indonesia," Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, no. 97, pp. 31-53, 2000. 

[2] T. R. Benson, M. A. Coble, J. J. Rytuba and G. A. Mahood, "Lithium enrichment in intracontinental rhyolite magmas leads to Li deposits in caldera basins," Nature Communications, vol. 8, no. 270, pp. 1-9, 2017. 

[3] Image is downloaded from http://www.worldatlas.com/