Conclusion

Our findings show several similarities and differences between the two study areas. Employing the methods, we developed an understanding of the study areas' similarities and differences that can act as a template for prospecting future lithium sites using Landsat-08 data.

 

Commonalities between the sites include montmorillonite clays with other lithium-bearing minerals surrounding the playas. In addition, both sites contained hydrated ash tuffs upslope in alluvial fans, which we infer as a mixing zone critical to developing these lithium-bearing deposits. Another relation we saw was the presence of volcanic processes that could be involved in the origin of lithium. Furthermore, the sites were surrounded by high topographic settings that facilitated the build-up and leaching of the lithology. 

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Not only due to its climate, but the Salar de Atacama also shows more ferrous assemblages and the lack of vegetation that facilitates more erosional processes. The Chilean mine has steeper slopes which allow more sediment to be eroded towards the Salar. However, the vegetation, lower slopes, and climate of Clayton Valley, NV, exhibit a non-extensive clay build-up that could affect lithium-bearing production. 

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