Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Gabitov, Rinat

Committee Member

Kirkland, Brenda

Committee Member

Paul, Varun

Date of Degree

5-4-2018

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

The hydrocarbon producing rocks of the Upper Jurassic in the northern Gulf of Mexico are known to contain lithium-rich brines. However, the genesis of the lithium-rich water is not very well understood. Analysis of hydrogeochemical data indicates that the brines are enriched in bromide, Calcium, Lithium, and sodium, and depleted in potassium, magnesium, and sulfate. Considering this, hydrogeochemical, petrographic, and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) data shows that the brines have been significantly altered relative to the original composition of the water, by salt dissolution, freshwater mixing, and dolomitization. Based on the results of this study, the ore-grade lithium brine is being enhanced by the same stratigraphic and geochemical controls that is depositing dolomite in the Upper Jurassic reservoirs of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17551

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