Lithium - the Metal of the Future?
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Lithium - the Metal of the Future? Ihor A. Kunasz1 1
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ABSTRACT The second half of the twentieth century saw a dramatic shift in lithium chemicals production from traditional pegmatite sources to brines. Today, the bulk of lithium carbonate, which serves as the raw material for various downstream lithium chemicals, including lithium metal for the lithium batteries, is produced from the brines of the Salar de Atacama, Chile, the Salar del Hombre Muerto, Argentina and Clayton Valley Nevada, U.S.A. There is minor production in Tibet and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Australian spodumene concentrates are converted to lithium carbonate in the PRC. The resurgence in the potential development of electric cars has resulted in the increased exploration for and identification of potential new lithium brine operations and the reassessment of some pegmatite deposits. A number of predictions for a potentially large electric car market scenario have raised questions on the availability of sufficient lithium resources. However, since the original 1976 report on global lithium resources by the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering, newly identified deposits have almost quadrupled the total potentially available lithium resources. Based on the best predictions, the lithium supply is more than adequate to meet the demand for electric cars well into the 21st century. INTRODUCTION There have been three significant mileposts in the history of lithium minerals and chemicals production. Prior to WWII, small quantities of lepidolite mica from the Stewart mine, San Diego County, California were used in the production of alkaline storage batteries. During WWII, lithium hydroxide was used for rescue apparatus and lithium greases. The first big boost in lithium mining came from the Atomic Energy Commission program to develop the hydrogen bomb in the 1950’s. Following the closure of the program, lithium minerals and chemicals were used in ceramic and glass applications [ 1 ] The potential development of fusion and the development of electric automobiles in the 1970’s prompted the U.S. government to undertake an extensive brine exploration program to increase the lithium resource base in the United States. However, the program was not successful and the predicted production of a large number of electric vehicles did not materialize. Today, the renewed interest in the potential of lithium use in electric cars and energy storage systems, largely driven by government incentives for the development of green, pollution-free energy resulted in a resurgence of exploration for and potential development of new lithium resources, both brines and pegmatites. However, after several years of research and development of batteries for the electric car, the jury is still out on the future of these endeavors. LITHIUM SOURCES
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