This dataset is a compilation of lithium content in groundwater and formation waters from published geochemical datasets and compilations. Data includes all lithium concentrations found in published AGS datasets and industry mineral assessment reports. In total there are 1635 records, of which 87 records have lithium content greater than 75 mg/L. Seventeen analyses have a lithium content greater or equal to 100 mg/L (up to 140 mg/L) and occur within the Middle to Upper Devonian Swan Hills Formation, and Upper Devonan Leduc and Nisku formations of central and west-central Alberta.
This dataset is part of a package of data produced to support the creation of AGS Map 590, Minerals of Alberta. The package includes datasets of Prospective Areas for Mineral Exploration (DIG 2019-0025), Metallic Mineral Occurrences of Alberta (DIG 2019-0026), Industrial Mineral Occurrences of Alberta (DIG 2019-0027), Kiimberlite and Ultrabasic Intrusions of Alberta (DIG 2019-0028), references (txt) and methodology (Map 590 Information Document).
These data are measurement values of lithium concentration in milligrams per litre from laboratory analyses of water samples. Reported sampling dates go back as far as 1977. Thus, the user should be aware that laboratory techniques, accuracy, and precision have varied over time.
Non-detectable limits vary between sources of data. For most oil and gas wells all values of 0.01 or less as non-detectable.
If a lithium value is below a known non-detectable it is indicated by <, followed by the detection limit.
For some locations in AGS DIG 2010-0001, synthetic UWI's were created. They have not been carried forward to this compilation.
This is a compilation of data from many sources and can contain multiple multi-element geochemical analyses (i.e., records) for each well.
The sample depth is calculated from the kelly bushing for oil and gas wells and from ground surface for all other sources. The formation names (Geol_Unit) are as shown from the original databases.
Null or blank data indicate data that was not captured or is unknown. There is missing data in the original databases including unique well identifier, sample date, latitude, longitude, kelly bushing elevation, sample depth, cation-anion balance and formation name. We made no attempt to populate the missing data fields, except locations. Nor did we perform independent checking of the validity of the attributes (i.e., did not check against original databases). We did not perform validity checking on the original databases.
The datum is NAD83.
Locations are compiled from source data.
Locations missing from AGS DIG 2010-0001 were added when attainable, if location could not be determined then the sample was removed.
Some locations have been legally surveyed and others have not, original sources should be consulted for information of how locations were generated. In some cases, latitude and longitude precision should be less.
Alberta Geological Survey did no additional surveying as part of this data compilation.
Please see source reports for complete details on vertical position accuracy.
Generally, the sample depth is calculated from the kelly bushing for oil and gas wells and from ground surface for all other sources. For non-oil and gas wells, ground elevations are from a hand-held GPS,+/- 10 metres.
Oil and gas wells data are legal surveys (usually with a 1 cm accuracy) conducted by private industry.
For domestic water wells, ground elevations are often determined from topographic maps, or given in an industrial report in the case of industrial-water source wells.
The Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) compiled data on lithium content in groundwater and formation water from the following published datasets:
- AGS Digital datasets DIG 2010-0001, DIG 2011-0007, DIG 2012-0001, DIG 2019-0002
- NI 43-101 technical reports for Sturgeon Lake (Valleyview) property.
- Eccles, R. and Dufresne, M. (2017): Assessment report for 2016 exploration on the Fox Creek Lithium-brine project, west-central Alberta; Alberta Energy Mineral Assesment Report 20170006, 108 p.
Individual datasets were compiled into one table. The majority of data is from the previous AGS compilation DIG 2010-0001.
The attribute [AGS_LithID] was added to the dataset in order to have uniqueness in a single attribute. Attribute names were altered from previous datasets to better describe the attributes, and reduced in length to conform to GIS requireuments. Attributes not necessary for this publication were removed.
Several [UWI] sequence numbers are missing a sequence event in the primary [Reference] or were found to be not valid. UWIs were mantained and not valid sequences are flagged in the [Comments] attribute.
[Cat_An_Bal] values originally reported out of 100 were converted to values out of 1.00.
All samples have a location. Locations missing from AGS DIG 2010-0001 were added when attainable, if location could not be determined then the record was removed. Samples occurring outside of the Alberta provincial boundary were removed. Two samples with latitude of 48.9999 were retained.
Sample records from AGS DIG 2010-0001 with locations that did not match with the AGS water database (AGSWDB) were also removed (53 records).
Synthetic [UWI]'s in AGS DIG 2010-0001 were identidied and removed for this compilation. However, latitude and longitude locations and rest of data were mantained.
The original authors variously assessed the data. No additional quality assessment on the data, except for the steps described above, was completed for this publication.