In response to the rise of the energy storage industries such as new energy vehicles and the wide application of lithium in various fields worldwide, the global demand for lithium resources has been in explosive growth. In order to further comprehensively understand the global supply and demand pattern, development and utilization status, genesis of ore deposits and other characteristics of lithium resources, based on the achievements of many researchers at home and abroad, this paper systematically summarized the lithium supply and demand situation, resource endowment, deposit classification and distribution, typical geological characteristics, metallogenic factors and metallogenic regularity of terrestrial brine-type lithium deposits which are the main types of development and utilization all over the world. The review shows that brine-type lithium resource and (or) reserves in the plateau salt lakes are huge and play an important role. In addition, the mineralization potential of the underground brine-type lithium deposit is broad worldwide. The potential resources of underground brines are enormous, and the geothermal spring water type is also worthy of attention. Brine lithium deposits are mainly controlled by the subduction and collision of regional plate tectonics, arid climate and provenance conditions. Strengthening of the scientific research on underground brines in the future is expected to provide another significant support for the global demand for lithium resources.

This research optimized the structure of lithium extraction solar ponds to enhance the crystallization rate and yield of Li₂CO₃. Using the response surface methodology in Design-Expert 10.0.3, the authors conducted experiments to investigate the influence of four factors related to solar pond structure on the crystallization of Li₂CO₃ and their pairwise interactions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of the flow field within the solar pond were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software to compare temperature distributions before and after optimization. The results indicate that the optimal structure for lithium extraction from the Zabuye Salt Lake solar ponds includes UCZ (Upper Convective Zone) thickness of 53.63 cm, an LCZ (Lower Convective Zone) direct heating temperature of 57.39°C, a CO₃^2- concentration of 32.21 g/L, and an added soda ash concentration of 6.52 g/L. Following this optimized pathway, the Li₂CO₃ precipitation increased by 7.34% compared to the initial solar pond process, with a 33.33% improvement in lithium carbonate crystallization rate. This study demonstrates the feasibility of optimizing lithium extraction solar pond structures, offering a new approach for constructing such ponds in salt lakes. It provides valuable guidance for the efficient extraction of lithium resources from carbonate-type salt lake brines.

Natural gas hydrate is a clean energy source with substantial resource potential. In contrast to conventional oil and gas, natural gas hydrate exists as a multi-phase system consisting of solids, liquids, and gases, which presents unique challenges and complicates the mechanisms of seepage and exploitation. Both domestic and international natural gas hydrate production tests typically employ a single-well production model. Although this approach has seen some success, it continues to be hindered by low production rates and short production cycles. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore a new well network to significantly increase the production of a single well. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in natural gas hydrate research, including both laboratory studies and field tests. It further examines the gas production processes and development outcomes for single wells, dual wells, multi-branch wells, and multi-well systems under conditions of depressurization, thermal injection, and CO₂ replacement. On this basis, well types and well networks suitable for commercial exploitation of natural gas hydrate were explored, and the technical direction of natural gas hydrate development was proposed. The study shows that fully exploiting the flexibility of complex structural wells and designing a well network compatible with the reservoir is the key to improving production from a single well. Moreover, multi-well joint exploitation is identified as an effective strategy for achieving large-scale, efficient development of natural gas hydrate.

Mesozoic-Palaeozoic marine carbonate rocks are crucial hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Central Uplift area of the South Yellow Sea Basin (SYSB). Due to the scarcity of boreholes and the significant heterogeneity of carbonate reservoirs, the distribution of porous carbonate reservoirs and their related key controlling factors remain unclear. In this study, factors affecting the distribution of porous Carboniferous-Early Permian carbonate reservoirs in the SYSB were investigated through seismic inversion and isotope analysis. The log-seismic characteristics of porous carbonate reservoirs, sensitive lithology parameters, and physical property parameters were extracted and analyzed. The pre-stack simultaneous inversion technique was applied to predict the lithology and physical properties of porous carbonate reservoirs. Moreover, the sedimentary of carbonate was analyzed using isotopes of carbon, oxygen, and strontium. The results show that porous carbonate reservoirs are mainly developed in the open platform sediments with porosities of 3%-5% and are mainly distributed in the paleo-highland (Huanglong Formation and Chuanshan Formation) and the slope of paleo-highland (Hezhou Formation). The porous carbonate reservoirs of the Qixia Formation are only locally developed. In addition, the negative δ¹³C excursions indicate a warm and humid tropical climate with three sea-level fluctuations in the study area from the Carboniferous to Early Permian. The favorable conditions for developing porous carbonate rocks include the sedimentary environment and diagenetic process. The primary pore tends to form in high-energy environments of the paleo-highland, and the secondary pore is increased by dissolution during the syngenetic or quasi-syngenetic period. According to the hydrocarbon potential analysis, the Late Ordovician Wufeng Formation and Lower Silurian Gaojiabian Formation are the source rocks in the high-maturity-over-maturity stage, the Carboniferous-Lower Permian carbonate is the good reservoirs, and the Late Permian Longtan-Dalong Formation is the stable seal, ensuring a huge hydrocarbon accumulation potential in SYSB. The methods proposed in this study can be applied to other carbonate-dominated strata worldwide.

The Bikaner-Nagaur and Barmer Basins (Rajasthan) are the most important petroliferous sedimentary basins in India. For over a decade, the exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons in these basins. Paleocene-Eocene age rocks bear organic-rich sediments in these basins, including lignite and carbonaceous shale deposits. The present research investigates the source rock properties, petroleum potential and thermal maturity of the carbonaceous shale partings from the lignite mines of Gurha (Bikaner-Nagaur Basin) and Kapurdi (Barmer Basin) using petrographical and geochemical tools. The carbonaceous shales have high organic matter (OM), with considerable total organic carbon (TOC) contents ranging from 13% to 39%. Furthermore, they contain hydrogen-rich kerogen, including types II and II/III, as evidenced by the Rock-Eval and elemental analysis results. The existence of these kerogen types indicates the abundance of reactive (vitrinite and liptinite) macerals. However, the carbonaceous shales from the Bikaner-Nagaur Basin have oil generation potentials, with a high hydrogen index (up to 516 mg HC/g TOC) and a H/C ratio (up to 1.5) along with a significant presence of oil-prone liptinitic macerals. Apart from the geochemical and petrological results, the studied shales have low huminite reflectance (0.31%-0.48%), maximum temperature (S₂ peak; T_max) between 419°C and 429°C, and low production index values (PI: 0.01-0.03). These results indicate that these carbonaceous shales contain immature OM, and thereby, they cannot yet release commercial amount of oil. This immaturity level in the studied outcrop section is due to the shallow burial depth. Geochemical proxies further indicate the presence of both oil and gas-prone source rocks.

To identify the root causes of heavy metal contamination in soils as well as prevent and control such contamination from its sources, this study explored the accumulation patterns and ecological risks of heavy metals like Cd and Pb in solid waste in mining areas and across the water body, sediment, soil and agricultural product ecosystem surrounding the mining areas. Focusing on the residual solid waste samples in lead-zinc deposits in a certain area of Guizhou Province, along with samples of topsoils, irrigation water, river sediments, and crops from surrounding areas. This study analyzed the distributions of eight heavy metals, i.e., Cd, As, Cr, Hg, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ni, in the samples through field surveys and sample tests. Furthermore, this study assessed the contamination levels and ecological risks of heavy metals in soils, sediments, and agricultural products using methods such as the single-factor index, Nemerow composite index, and potential ecological risk assessment. The results indicate that heavy metals in the solid waste samples all exhibited concentrations exceeding their risk screening values, with 60% greater than their risk intervention values. The soils and sediments demonstrate slight and moderate comprehensive ecological risks of heavy metals. The single-factor potential ecological risks of heavy metals in both the soil and sediment samples decreased in the order of Hg, Cd, Pb, As, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Ni, suggesting the same sources of heavy metals in the soils and sediments. Most of the agricultural product samples exhibited over-limit concentrations of heavy metals dominated by Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr, excluding Hg and As. The agricultural product assessment using the Nemerow composite index reveals that 35% of the agricultural product samples reached the heavy metal contamination level, implying that the agricultural products from farmland around the solid waste dumps have been contaminated with heavy metals. The eight heavy metals in the soil, sediment, and agricultural product samples manifested high coefficients of variation (CVs), indicating pronounced spatial variability. This suggests that their concentrations in soils, sediments, and agricultural products are significantly influenced by human mining activities. Additionally, the agricultural products exhibit strong transport and accumulation capacities for Cd, Cu, and Zn.

Texas is the largest state by area in the US after Alaska, and one of the top states in the production and consumption of electricity with many coal-fired plants. Coal-fired power plants emit greater than 70% of pollutants in the energy sector. When coal is burned to produce electricity, nitrogen oxides (NO_x) are released into the air, one of the main pollutants that threaten human health and lead to a large number of premature deaths. The key to effective air quality management is the strict compliance of all plants with emission standards. However, not all Texas coal plants have the environmental equipment to lower pollutant emissions. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) observations from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) were used to evaluate the emissions for Texas power plants. Data from both the Emissions and Generation Resource Integrated Database (EGRID) and the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) were used to examine emissions. It was found that NO_x emissions for Texas power plants range from 1.53 kt/year to 10.99 kt/year, with the Martin Lake, Limestone and Fayette Power Project stations being the top emitters. WA Parish and Martin Lake stations have the strongest NO_x fluxes, with both exhibiting significant seasonal variability. Comparisons of bottom-up inventories for EDGAR and EGRID show a high correlation (r=0.956) and a low root mean square error (0.766). A more reasonable control policy would lead to much reduced NO_x emissions.

Eco-geological vulnerability assessment is a significant research topic within the field of eco-geology, but it remains poorly studied. The Mu Us Sandy Land, located in the central part of the farming-pastoral ecotone in northern China, plays a critical role in maintaining the ecological security pattern in this region. However, this sandy land also faces severe sandy desertification and ecological degradation. This study conducted a regional eco-geological vulnerability assessment of the Mu Us Sandy Land using a comprehensive index evaluation method based on eco-geological theories and survey results. To construct an appropriate index system for the eco-geological vulnerability assessment of the Mu Us Sandy Land, the study considered the sandy land's unique characteristics and identified 15 factors of five categories, namely geology, meteorology, soil, topography, and vegetation. The paper calculated the comprehensive weights of all the indices using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the entropy weight method (EWM). Furthermore, it established the eco-geological vulnerability index (EGVI) and obtained the assessment results. The results showed that the eco-geological vulnerability of the Mu Us Sandy Land gradually intensifies from east to west, manifested as vulnerable eco-geological conditions overall. Specifically, extremely vulnerable zones are found in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the study area, highly vulnerable zones in the western and southern parts, moderately vulnerable zones in the central part, and slightly and potentially vulnerable zones in the eastern and southern parts. Areas with high spatial autocorrelations include the northern Uxin Banner - Otog Banner - Angsu Town area, the surrounding areas of Hongdunjie Town in the southeastern part of the study area, the Hongshiqiao Township - Xiaohaotu Township area, Otog Front Banner, and Bainijing Town, which should be prioritized in the ecological conservation and restoration. Additionally, the paper proposed suggestions for the ecological conservation and restoration of county-level administrative areas in the study area. Overall, the findings provide a valuable reference for the ecological conservation and restoration of the Mu Us Sandy Land and other desert areas in arid and semi-arid regions.

The Ordos Basin (OB) in the western part of the North China Craton (NCC), was located at the jointed area of multi-plates and has recorded the Mesozoic tectonic characteristics. Its tectonic evolution in the Mesozoic is significant to understand the tectonic transformation of the northern margin of the NCC. In this work, the detrital zircon and apatite (U-Th)/He chronological system were analyzed in the northern part of the OB, and have provided new evidence for the regional tectonic evolution. The (U-Th)/He chronological data states the weighted ages of 240-235 Ma, 141 Ma with the peak distribution of 244 Ma, 219 Ma, 173 Ma, 147-132 Ma. The thermal evolution, geochronological data, and regional unconformities have proved four stages of regional tectonic evolution for the OB and its surroundings in the Mesozoic: (1) The Late Permian-Early Triassic; (2) the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic; (3) the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous; (4) the Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene. It is indicated that the multi-directional convergence from the surrounding tectonic units has controlled the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the OB. Four-stage tectonic evolution reflected the activation or end of different plate movements and provided new time constraints for the regional tectonic evolution of the NCC in the Mesozoic.

Distinguishing high-grade mafic-ultramafic rocks originally crystallized from within-plate basaltic magmatism is challenging and crucial because the chemical composition of the igneous rocks has been modified during high-grade metamorphism, causing misidentification of the characters of the parental magma. Proterozoic metamorphosed mafic dykes occur throughout the Chhotanagpur Gneissic Complex (CGC) of eastern Indian shield. The E-W trending mafic dykes from the Saltora area in the southeastern CGC underwent metamorphism in two episodes: M₁ (650 MPa; 770°C) and M₂ (300 MPa; 744°C). The metamafics are enriched in LILE, depleted in HFSE, and display strong fractionation of LREE, nearly flat HREE patterns in a chondrite-normalized REE diagram, and show tholeiitic differentiation trend. Their geochemical affinity is towards rift-related, continental within-plate basalts. About 7%-10% melting of the carbonated spinel-peridotite sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) produced the parental mafic magma. The pre-existing SCLM was metasomatized by slab-derived fluid during the previous subduction. The upwelling of the asthenosphere in a post-collisional tectonic setting caused E-W trending fractures, lithospheric thinning, and gravitational collapse. These dykes were emplaced during crustal extension around 1070 Ma. The remarkable geochemical similarity between the mafic dykes of Saltora and Dhanbad, the ca. 1096 Ma Mahoba (Bundelkhand craton), and the ca. 1070 Ma Alcurra mafic dykes in Australia supports a genetic link.

With the development of the new energy industry and the depletion of nickel sulfide ore resources, laterite nickel ore has become the main source of primary nickel, and nickel for power batteries has become a new growth point in consumption. This paper systematically summarizes the processes, parameters, products, recovery rates, environmental indicators, costs, advantages, disadvantages and the latest research progress of mainstream nickel extraction processes from laterite nickel ore. It also provides a comparative analysis of the environmental impact and economic efficiency of different nickel extraction processes. It is found that the current nickel extraction processes from laterite nickel ore globally for commercial production mainly include the RKEF process for producing ferronickel and the HPAL process for producing intermediate products. The former accounts for about 80% of laterite nickel ore production. Compared to each other, the investment cost per ton of nickel metal production capacity for the RKEF is about 43000$, with an operational cost of about 16000$ per ton of nickel metal and a total nickel recovery rate of 77%–90%. Its products are mainly used in stainless steels. For the HPAL process, the investment cost per ton of nickel metal production capacity is about 56000$, with an operational cost of about 15000 $ per ton of nickel metal and a total nickel recovery rate of 83%–90%. Its products are mainly used in power batteries. The significant differences between the two lies in energy consumption and carbon emissions, with the RKEF being 2.18 and 2.37 times that of the HPAL, respectively. Although the use of clean energy can greatly reduce the operational cost and environmental impact of RKEF, if RKEF is converted to producing high Ni matte, its economic and environmental performance still cannot match that of the HPAL and oxygen-enriched side-blown processes. Therefore, it can be inferred that with the increasing demand for nickel in power batteries, HPAL and oxygen-enriched side blowing processes will play a greater role in laterite nickel extraction.

Research on the ecohydrological processes of terrestrial plants is a frontier field comprising ecology, hydrology and global change research, yielding the key theoretical foundations of ecohydrology. In karst areas, due to its unique geological background, the karst landscape is strongly developed, with high bedrock exposure, high permeability, fragmented soils, shallow soils, and high spatial heterogeneity, resulting in very limited water storage for plant uptake and growth in rock fissures and shallow soils. Therefore, water conditions are an important ecological factor influencing plant growth. To comprehensively understand the current progress and development trends in plant water use research focusing on karst areas, this paper uses the VOSviewer software to analyze the literature on plant water use in karst areas between 1984 and 2022. The results showed that: (1) Research on plant water use in karst areas has developed rapidly worldwide, and the number of relevant studies in the literature have increased year by year, which together means that it is attracting more and more attention. (2) The investigation of plant water sources, geological background of karst areas, seasonal arid tropical climates, the relationship between δ¹³C values and plant water use efficiency, karst plant water use in karst savannas and subtropical areas, and ecosystems under climate change yields the knowledge base in this field. (3) Most studies in this area focus on the division of water sources of plants in karst areas, the methods of studying the water use sources of plants, and the water use strategies and efficiency of plants. (4) Future research will focus on how plant water use in karst areas is influenced by Earth's critical zones, climate change, and ecohydrological separation. These studies will provide a key scientific basis for guiding ecological restoration and promoting sustainable development in karst areas.