Framework for Remote Sensing and Modelling of Lithium-Brine Deposit Formation

The demand for “green” metals such as lithium is increasing the world works to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. More than half of world’s resources are contained in lithium-brine deposits, including salt flats, or “salars”, Andean region South America, also known Lithium Triangle. genesis deposits largely driven by leaching from source rocks watersheds, transport via groundwater systems salars, and evaporative concentration salars. goal this research create a consistent seamless methodology tracking mass watershed greatest nucleus. area interest around Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, largest flat. We explore how Li-brine form, where water solute come from, brines formed, abstraction affects balance inside salar. To support entire system, open-source Earth observation (EO) data analysed. found that constructing flexible repeatable workflow, question reaches Uyuni can be addressed. work demonstrated importance flow river network highlighted need main supplying salar with both inflow mass.