Objective On the basis of the reasonable determination and division of the exploration types of clay−type lithium deposits, the spacing between exploration engineering projects is analyzed.

Methods Based on an analysis of the coal−aluminum−lithium coupling relationship and spatial assemblage relationship, commonalities and differences were identified, and the current exploration norms for hard rock lithium ores, sedimentary bauxite and coal were used as references. First, the main geological factors affecting the exploration type and influence degree are analyzed, and the exploration types are classified by means of the type coefficient method. Then, the approximation method is used to determine the spacing of basic exploration engineering under different exploration types.

Results There are five main geological factors affecting the determination of exploration type: the size of the ore body, the internal structure of the ore bed, the stability of the thickness, the uniform distribution of useful components and the degree of structural influence. If the sum of the type coefficients is between 3.0 and 2.6, it is classified as simple (type Ⅰ); if the sum of the type coefficients is between 2.5 and 1.6, it is classified as medium (type Ⅱ); and if the sum of the type coefficients is between 1.5 and 1.0, it is classified as complex (type Ⅲ). The distance of the type Ⅰ basic exploration project is 120~200 m, the type Ⅱ basic exploration project line distance is 60~120 m, and the type Ⅲ basic exploration project line distance is 30~600 m.

Conclusions The research results of the exploration type division and exploration project spacing of clay lithium deposits are reliable and have been verified by exploration demonstration blocks. In the future exploration project processes, the above results can be used as a reference to determine the exploration type and the distance between basic projects and to carry out reasonable deployment of exploration projects. The preliminary research results still need to be repeatedly verified and constantly revised by many exploration practices in the future.