Discovery beneath a volcano in the USA threatens China’s global dominance of lithium
The recent discovery, referred to as the “white gold,” has taken an unexpected turn, potentially altering the global energy power dynamics. This development challenges China’s longstanding control over the supply chain of lithium, a crucial resource for the transition to clean energies.
An Essential Resource for the Technological Future
Lithium has emerged as a highly sought-after mineral globally due to its significance in the production of electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems. This mineral has become a cornerstone for the global energy transition, with China dominating much of its processing and distribution.
A Deposit that Surpasses All Known
An ancient supervolcano has unearthed a groundbreaking discovery: a high concentration of lithium in illite-type clays, exceeding 2.4% by weight, which is more than double the content found in other similar deposits. Geologists estimate that this deposit could potentially hold between 20 to 40 million tons of lithium, possibly reaching up to 120 million tons in the best-case scenario.
The Environmental Challenge and China’s Reaction
In contrast to the South American salars, this new deposit presents unique challenges in terms of environmental impact. Experts caution about the potential risks associated with its exploitation, such as soil contamination and disruption of local ecosystems. Nevertheless, the discovery holds the promise of reducing battery production costs and expediting the transition to renewable energies. If this reserve is activated for production, Western reliance on Chinese lithium exports could decline significantly, leading to a transformation in the economic and geopolitical landscape surrounding this prized mineral in the 21st century.
