Abstract:Through process mineralogical analysis of lithium-rich clay rocks in a certain area of Northwest Guizhou, the material composition, distribution characteristics, and occurrence state of lithium in the lithium-rich clay rocks were identified, which providing a theoretical basis for the development and utilization evaluation of lithium ores. Process mineralogy studies show that the lithium-rich clay rocks in the region are composed of kaolinite (49.06%), hydrobauxite (29.78%), boehmite (10.33%), illite (6.56%), anatase (3.31%), and a small amount of hematite (0.97%). The main chemical composition of lithium-rich clay rock is Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, Fe2O3, K2O, MgO, etc., in which, the content of Al2O3 and SiO2 is relatively high, accounting for 48.95% and 30.06%, respectively. The distribution of Li2O in various particle sizes is relatively average, and there is no obvious enrichment phenomenon. The monomer dissociation degree of the main minerals is relatively low, and the coalescence situation is relatively complex. When the tolerance of kaolinite, bauxite, illite, anatase, and hematite is 5% (i.e. the dissociation degree is above 95%), the monomer dissociation degree is 8.91%, 1.82%, 1.87%, 1.82%, and 3.13%, respectively. The leaching rate of lithium is 85.15% under the optimal conditions for blank roasting sulfuric acid leaching of this ore including grinding fineness of —0.074 mm accounting for 90%, roasting at 600 ℃ for 1.5 hours, and the roasted slag is leached with sulfuric acid concentration of 15%, the leaching liquid-solid ratio of 4, the leaching temperature of 90 ℃, and the leaching time of 1 hour. Lithium in the study area does not present in clay minerals in the form of ion adsorption, but rather in clay minerals in the form of isomorphic substitution.