Lithium deposits discovered in an American volcano could meet global demand

Geologists in the United States have uncovered abundant lithium deposits within a volcanic crater situated on the Nevada-Oregon border. Preliminary estimates suggest that these resources may reach up to 40 million tons of the element.

Until now, the most significant lithium deposits were believed to be those found beneath the dry salt lake Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, spanning an area of over 10,000 square kilometers and containing an estimated 10 million tons of lithium.

Lithium deposits that will change the market?

The McDermitt caldera, where these deposits were uncovered, was created approximately 16.4 million years ago as a result of a massive magma eruption, estimated at around 1,000 cubic kilometers in volume. This eruption contained elements such as sodium, potassium, lithium, chlorine, and boron. Over time, as the climate cooled, glassy volcanic rocks formed within the crater. These rocks, when weathered, left behind particles rich in lithium.

These deposits have now transformed into clay deposits resembling those used by potters, due to the influence of hot brine.

According to Anouk Borst, a geologist affiliated with KU Leuven and the Royal Museum of Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium, the discovery of these deposits is poised to significantly alter the global dynamics of lithium supply. This will impact factors such as pricing, supply security, and geopolitical considerations.

Mining process

The mining of these newly discovered deposits is set to commence in 2026. The mining process will involve washing the clay and using centrifugation to separate the small lithium-containing grains from the larger minerals. Subsequently, the clay will be leached in vats of sulfuric acid to extract the lithium.

Given that the United States is not currently one of the world’s top lithium producers, the presence of these deposits has the potential to shift the geopolitical balance in the future. Professor Marcin Molenda from Jagiellonian University emphasized the critical importance of raw materials for energy storage production in this context. You can find the full interview for more details .

Source: chemistryworld.com