Geologists have found a massive supply of lithium in the Appalachian Mountains. The haul is worth about $64.4 billion. It could supply the United States with enough lithium to last for 328 years. This discovery comes at a time when the demand for batteries is growing fast. 65 billion lithium haul could power US for 328 years – New York Post.
Massive Supply
The East Coast mountain range holds about 2.5 million metric tons of the mineral. Most of the supply is in the Carolinas, Maine, and New Hampshire. Lithium is used to power batteries for iPhones, cars, and aerospace parts. The United States currently imports nearly half of the lithium it uses.
USGS Director Ned Mamula spoke about the findings in a statement. “This research shows that the Appalachians contain enough lithium to help meet the nation’s growing needs,” he said.
“The East Coast mountain range holds about 2.5 million metric tons of the mineral.”
With this new supply, officials estimate we could build 1.6 million grid-scale batteries. That is enough to power 130 million electric vehicles. It could also supply 180 billion laptops for use over thousands of years worldwide.
Global Competition
Experts say the find provides a major contribution to U.S. mineral security. This is important because global demand is rising quickly. Currently, Australia and China lead the world in lithium production and refining. Production capacity for the mineral is expected to double by 2029.
Mamula said the haul is a major contribution to U.S. mineral security, at a time when global lithium demand is rising rapidly. The discovery has the potential to change the list of top global producers.
“Production capacity for the mineral is expected to double by 2029.”
Geological History
The minerals formed more than 250 million years ago. High heat and pressure caused deep rocks to melt. This happened during ancient tectonic collisions when continents moved together.
Officials say the discovery highlights the potential for the U.S. to reclaim mineral independence. The U.S. was the dominant world producer three decades ago.
