I looked into the kaolinite-lithium matter, and I now suggest the idea has no merit as far as WAK is concerned. Some granites have lepidolite, a lithium-bearing mica, so kaolonised granite deposits might have a commercially interesting lithium content, but most do not. Because Wickepin kaolinised granite is of high quality from the kaolin perspective, I assume it has near-zero lithium content.
Kalonisation means the granite is decomposed by weathering, so even if there were lepidolite in the granite, water would react with the lithium, and carry it away as a salt, which is why brines, and even sea water, contain lithium. When clays contain lithium, the lithium is usually trapped by contaminants in the kaolinite, especially magnesium.
So much for that fond dream.
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