U.S. Scientists may have found the world’s largest lithium stash under a volcano between Nevada and Oregon.
Researchers from Lithium Americas, GNS Science, and Oregon State University made this discovery.
They shared their findings in Science Advances on August 31. The team thinks the McDermitt Volcano holds 20 to 40 million tons of lithium metal.
This beats Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flat, the former record holder with 21 tons.
Anouk Borst, a Belgian geologist, said this find could be very important. She mentioned that it could change global lithium prices, supply, and geopolitics.
The team found that the crater contains a unique clay with 1.3% to 2.4% lithium. This clay is almost twice as rich in lithium as other common sources.
Juan Carlos Guajardo, director of Plusmining, said the study seems promising but isn’t definite yet. He also noted a lack of drilling details.
Daniel Jimenez of iLiMarkets stated that other projects, like those in Brazil and Africa, might offer simpler options for lithium extraction.
Background
Lithium is crucial for making batteries, especially for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Its importance has soared with the global push towards cleaner energy.
Most of the world’s lithium comes from Australia, Chile, and China. A massive deposit in the U.S. could reshape this market.
This U.S. Volcano may harbor the World’s largest lithium deposit. The McDermitt Volcano dates back about 16 million years. It has not been considered a key lithium source before.
This new discovery could speed up America’s green transition, reducing dependency on foreign minerals.
Although exciting, this discovery comes with hurdles. Mining lithium isn’t straightforward. Extracting it from clay is also a complicated process.
Environmental concerns could slow down the project too. Regulations require comprehensive reviews, which can take years.
Another factor is competition. Lithium projects in other regions, like Africa and South America, are also progressing.
Companies are racing to secure their own lithium sources.
Overall, if the McDermitt find is confirmed, it would boost the U.S. energy sector and have global repercussions.