Clay-type lithium ore, as an integral part of strategic lithium resources, has garnered attention due to its widespread distribution, abundant reserves, and ease of extraction. However, the uncertainty surrounding the occurrence forms and distribution patterns of lithium within ore presents challenges for large-scale development using traditional pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical processes. This study conducted a sequential chemical extraction of clay-type lithium ore from a specific region in Yunnan, China, coupled with characterization techniques including mineral liberation analysis (MLA), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), to analyze in detail the distribution patterns and binding states of lithium. SEM images unveiled that the ore surface exhibits granular and lamellar structures, accompanied byminute granules and pores. XRD and MLA analyses indicate that the primary mineral components include diaspore, boehmite, anatase, and clay minerals such as kaolinite ［Al2Si2O5(OH)4］ and lithium chlorite ［LiAl5Si3O10(OH)8］, identifying the ore as a bauxitic carbonate-hosted clay-type lithium ore. The total lithium content in the ore is determined to be 3 293 μg·g-1, with 88.61% of lithium existing in the form of silicate/aluminosilicate, with carbonate/phosphate-bound lithium comprising 9.64%, and the remaining part existing in free, ion-exchange, and sulfide-bound states. TOF-SIMS results further confirmed the overlapping distribution of lithium with aluminum, silicon, potassium, and other elements within the ore, predominantly existing in stable, less substitutable states within clay-type mineral phases. The disappearance of clay mineral phases following concentrated hydrofluoric acid leaching further validates that lithium is predominantly distributed within clay-type aluminosilicate minerals. This study provides an in-depth analysis of lithium occurrence forms and distribution patterns in clay-type lithium ore, offering theoretical guidance for achieving selective and efficient lithium extraction from clay-type lithium ore.