A massive lithium deposit, the largest in the world, has been discovered beneath an ancient volcanic caldera along the Nevada-Oregon border. Experts estimate the site contains up to 40 million metric tons of lithium, potentially influencing the global battery market for decades, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to the Science Advances.
The deposit, located inside the McDermitt Caldera, a large volcanic crater formed after the collapse of a magma chamber, spans approximately 45 by 35 kilometers. The study was led by Ph.D. Thomas R. Benson on behalf of Lithium Americas Corporation (LAC) and published in Science Advances, detailing how mineral-rich lithium deposits form in volcanic landscapes.
Millions of years ago, a supervolcano eruption caused the magma chamber to collapse, creating the caldera. Over time, layers of hot volcanic ash settled at the caldera floor, forming a lake that accumulated volcanic sediments. Mineral-rich hydrothermal fluids continued to flow into the lake, depositing lithium over millennia.
As the lake dried, deposits formed with exceptionally high lithium concentrations, including clay-rich layers approximately 30 meters thick containing both lithium and potassium. A significant portion of high-quality lithium-bearing clay lies close to the surface, allowing for open-pit mining.
Before this discovery, the US already had major lithium reserves at the Silver Peak mines in Nevada. Last year, significant lithium deposits were also identified in southern Arkansas, estimated between 5.1 and 19 million tons. Analysts predict global lithium demand could increase eightfold by 2040 compared with 2022 production.
The newly explored reserves are considered strategic on a global scale. While lithium-ion batteries may eventually face competition from sodium-ion and other emerging technologies, the presence and accessibility of such deposits will continue to play a decisive role in the global battery and energy storage market.
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