MURTAZIN ERMEK

Deputy Director for Science, candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences

The purpose of the project:

Scientific substantiation of the prospects for developing the mineral potential of lithium-bearing brines of the Shu-Sarysu depression for development of the lithium industry in Kazakhstan.

Project objectives:

1. Collection, compilation and analysis of factual data, unpublished reports and analytical materials about the natural lithium-bearing brines occurrences in the Shu-Sarysu depression.

2. Regional hydrogeochemical studies to identify and assess the hydrogeochemical parameters of natural lithium-bearing brines of various types and genesis in the Shu-Sarysu depression.

3. Compilation of a geo-information database of the natural lithium-bearing brines occurrences in the territory of the Shu-Sarysu depression.

4. Development and generation of thematic maps and cartographic models of the distribution of natural lithium-bearing brines in the Shu-Sarysu depression.

5. Analysis and evaluation of forecast resources, geological and economic assessment of the development of promising natural lithium-bearing brines occurrences in the territory of the Shu-Sarysu depression.

6. Development of recommendations on technologies for the extraction of lithium, other rare alkali metals and halogen elements from natural brines of the Shu-Sarysu depression, as well as on the disposal of waste brines.

The scientific novelty of the grant project lies in the formation of a geo-information database of the natural lithium-bearing brines occurrences on the territory of the Shu-Sarysu depression and the generation of thematic maps and cartographic models of their distriution.
The grant research outcomes will make it possible to evaluate the forecast resources of the promising natural brines occurrences and the geological and economic assessment of their development, to develop recommendations on technologies for the extraction of lithium, other rare alkali metals and halogen elements, as well as for the disposal of waste brines.
A scientifically based assessment of the mineral potential of  natural brines on the territory of Southern Kazakhstan will allow evaluating the prospects for the development of the lithium industry in the Republic.

EXPECTED AND ACHIEVED RESULTS -2024

Factual data, unpublished reports and analytical materials on the natural lithium-bearing brines occurrences in the Shu-Sarysu depression will be collected, summarized and analyzed.
Regional hydro-geochemical studies will be conducted to identify and evaluate the hydro-geochemical indicators of natural lithium-bearing brines of various types and genesis in the Shu-Sarysu depression.
A geo-information database of the natural lithium-bearing brines occurrences on the territry of the Shu-Sarysu depression will be made.
Thematic maps and cartographic models of the distribution of natural lithium-bearing brines in the Shu-Sarysu depression will be developed and prepared.
The forecast resources will be analyzed and evaluated including a geological and economic assessment to be given for the development of the promising natural lithium-bearing brines occurrences in the Shu-Sarysu depression.
Recommendations will be developed on technologies for the extraction of lithium, other rare alkali metals and halogen elements from natural brines of the Shu-Sarysu depression, as well as on the waste brines disposal.
In 2024, factual data, stock and analytical materials were analyzed based on world and domestic experience on the manifestations of natural lithium-bearing brines in the territory of the Shu-Sarysu depression; regional field hydrogeochemical studies were performed to identify and evaluate the hydrogeochemical parameters of natural lithium-bearing brines of various types and genesis in the territory of the Shu-Sarysu depression (Moinkum structure); A geoinformation database of manifestations of natural lithium-bearing brines in the territory of the Shu-Sarysu depression has been developed and created; thematic maps and cartographic models of the distribution of natural lithium-bearing brines in the territory of the Shu-Sarysu depression (Moinkum structure) have been constructed and created. 

Overview map of the work area

Overview map of the research area

Geological map of the territory

Hydrogeological map of the territory of the Shu-Sarysui depression
Gas fields and hydrogeological wells have been surveyed and tested. (№№ 105, 102, 110, 120), related to the Airakty and Amangeldy gas fields of the Zhambyl region.

Amangeldy Gas Field

Airakty gas field

The scheme of the main structural units of the Shu-Sarysui basin

EXPECTED AND ACHIEVED RESULTS -2025

1. The geoinformation database of natural lithium-bearing brine occurrences in the Shu-Sarysu Depression (Kokpansor structure) has been expanded, representing an important step in systematizing and deepening knowledge of the region's mineral resource potential. This update aims to improve the existing geoinformation system, which provides comprehensive storage, processing, visualization, and analysis of diverse data related to the geological structure, hydrogeochemical characteristics, and spatial distribution of lithium-bearing brines.
2. A regional hydrogeochemical study was conducted to identify manifestations and evaluate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of natural lithium-bearing brines of various types and genesis. Water samples were collected for abbreviated chemical analysis and determination of rare earth element content. During the field studies, water samples were collected from three hydrogeological wells, one spring and from the Shu River near the village of Zhuantobe (Suzak District, Turkestan Region), as well as samples of brine and bottom sediments from water points. The lithium content in the samples varied from 0.075 to 8.51 mg/dm³, strontium from 1.409 to 14.33 mg/dm³, rubidium from 0.0035 to 0.0139 mg/dm³, cesium from 0.0001 to 0.0002 mg/dm³, while industrial concentrations were not detected. Water mineralization ranges from 549 to 6295 mg/dm³. Well water is used primarily for livestock watering.
3. Thematic maps and cartographic models of the distribution of natural lithium-bearing brines in the Shu-Sarysu Depression (Kokpansor structure) have been developed and created. The development of this complex of thematic maps aims to provide systematized spatial information necessary for solving applied and scientific problems in the fields of hydrogeology, geochemistry, and assessing the region's mineral resource potential.
4. The forecast resources were analyzed and assessed, and a geological and economic assessment of the development of promising manifestations of natural lithium-bearing brines in the territory of the Shu-Sarysu depression (Moinkum and Kokpansor structures) was carried out.
5. Recommendations have been developed for technologies for extracting lithium, other rare alkali metals and halogen elements from natural brines of the Shu-Sarysu depression, as well as for the disposal of spent brines (Moinkum and Kokpansor structures).

1. Malis Absametov, Daniyar Chensizbayev, Nurbol Itemen, Ermek Murtazin, Vladimir Mirlas, Michael Zilberbrand, Yaakov Anker, (2025). Origin of lithium- rich deep formation waters in Upper Devonian - Lower Carboniferous sediments of Shu-Sarysu gas fields, Kazakhstan, studied by hydro-chemical modeling. Groundwater for Sustainable Development 30 (2025) 101500, https://doi.org/10.1016/i.gsd .2025.101500, QI, процентиль - 94.
2. Ye.Zh. Murtazin, D.K. Adenova, S. Tazhiev,(2025). HYDROGEOCHEMICAL FEATURES OF THE FORMATION OF LITHIUM-BEARING BRINES OF THE SHU-SARYSU BASIN. Research results. №3 (107) 2025, ISSN 2304-3334, https://iournal.kaznaru.edu.kz/index.php/re search/issue/view/31 /3-107-2025

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