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It has been commonly considered that ecological fiscal transfer has the dual goals of equalizing basic public services and improving the quality of local ecological environment. However, the diversity of the goals could impact the outcome of local financial transfer payment and the successful realization of the goals. Based on the mediating effects of financial expenditure on environmental protection, and moderating effects of financial expenditure on agriculture, forestry and water, this paper made a theoretical analysis of the ecological environmental goals of ecological fiscal transfers, and implemented a research hypothesis, using the panel data of 199 counties in Gansu, Guizhou, Hubei and Henan provinces from 2010 to 2018. The empirical study showed that ecological fiscal transfers promoted the quality of local ecological environment during the sample period. As to the effects of local ecological fiscal transfers, the expenditure on environmental protection played a partial role of mediating effect, while the expenditure on agricultural, forestry and water not only regulated the effects of local environmental protection expenditure, but also improved local environmental quality. Since the local government had the information advantage regarding environmental governance, the goals of the provincial-level system could better reflect the ecological needs of the jurisdiction area. Consequently, the province-to-county ecological fiscal transfer system could effectively promote the quality of local ecological environment, and the incentive effect of environmental protection was obvious. Therefore, local governments at the county level should gradually abandon the practice of ‘pollution first, treatment later’, and take up the model of ‘co-ordinated development with dual goals’ involving both economy and environment. To coordinate those two goals of ecological fiscal transfer, the ‘bottom-up participatory decision-making’ concept can be a beneficial supplement to environmental governance by improving environmental quality through diversified practices of local governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Metallogenic mechanism of lithium resource in sedimentary bauxite (aluminum) deposits was proposed. • Lithium associated with clay minerals in sedimentary bauxite (aluminum) deposits was concluded. • The occurrence states of lithium in clay minerals were reviewed. • The affecting factors of lithium leaching from clay minerals were discussed. Bauxite-associated type Li resource is mainly discovered in the sedimentary bauxite (aluminum) deposits forming areas, especially Northern Guizhou-Southern Chongqing, Western Henan and Central Guizhou, China. This paper reviews the enrichment mechanism and occurrence states of Li in sedimentary bauxite (aluminum) deposits. The Li in these deposits is derived from underlying carbonate rock, and the favorable sedimentary environment, e.g., alternation climate of dry and humid, the marine-continental transitional zone with reduction-weak oxidation and low salinity, is conducive to the Li enrichment in these deposits. Li is mainly hosted by independent mineral (i.e., cookeite), partly adsorbed by montmorillonite, and rarely adsorbed by illite/kaolinite. Furthermore, the leaching methods and affecting factors of Li from bauxite-associated type Li resource are summarized. Acid solution is the main leaching solution, but its excessive use can generate abundant acidic residues, which have hazards to the environment. Thereby, leaching solution with little or no acid has been recommended. The affecting factors of Li leaching are the calcination temperature, leaching temperature, leaching time, liquid–solid ration and mineral particle size. The above summary deepens the understanding of the enrichment mechanism and occurrence states of Li in the sedimentary bauxite (aluminum) deposits, and has the potential to promote Li resource, initially considered uneconomical, become an important economic source of Li. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]