Lithium is mined in "hard rock" in Australia, which is similar to mining coal, it's in HARD ROCK.
A majority of lithium mines are done in Brine, where Evaporative ponds (yeah, these are environmentally HORRIBLE) hold the Brine for 18-24 months for the water to evaporate, and the yellow sediment is then gathered and smelted to retrieve the Lithium Carbonate. These are primarily Chinese owned companies, and are frequently found in South America.
However, companies (such as American Battery Metals) are working on a chemically closed system, that can retrieve Lithium from Brine and Clay, in as little as 4 hours, that re-cycle and re-use the reagents, will reclaim Lithium from the clay reserves in Northern Nevada (in cooperation with the DoE, DuPont and American Lithium) in which lithium rich clay is taken in; battery grade lithium is retrieved, and clay is returned - using a NON-THERMAL process.
Just because something is done environmentally stupid today; does not mean that a more cost effective, profitable and environmentally sustainable process is coming. At one time, Gold was mined by blasting water and eroding the sides of mountains. Today, Gold and other ores are mined in much more environmentally friendly methods.
Brine is toxic. It’s heavier than water, very base and is found below the water table. Allowing it to evaporate allows for leakage and contamination of ground water and literally killing land that is surrounding the area
Wouldn’t it be better to pump it up from the deepest part of the Brine pool; process it to remove marketable products (Sodash, Potash, Lithium Carbonate, Magnesium, Graphitr, etc) and then pump it back down into a shallow area of the Brine Pool? Just go over a mile or two, and pump it back down? That’s one of the goals that is being promoted
Lithium is highly reactive. Unlike copper or iron, it is not found in a pure ore. Australia is the largest hard rock mine in the world; with perhaps the bulk being recovered from Brine.
It can all be done cleaner, faster and cheaper. Like everything else it takes time money
That is a Copper mine, not a Lithium Mine.
Lithium is mined in "hard rock" in Australia, which is similar to mining coal, it's in HARD ROCK.
A majority of lithium mines are done in Brine, where Evaporative ponds (yeah, these are environmentally HORRIBLE) hold the Brine for 18-24 months for the water to evaporate, and the yellow sediment is then gathered and smelted to retrieve the Lithium Carbonate. These are primarily Chinese owned companies, and are frequently found in South America.
However, companies (such as American Battery Metals) are working on a chemically closed system, that can retrieve Lithium from Brine and Clay, in as little as 4 hours, that re-cycle and re-use the reagents, will reclaim Lithium from the clay reserves in Northern Nevada (in cooperation with the DoE, DuPont and American Lithium) in which lithium rich clay is taken in; battery grade lithium is retrieved, and clay is returned - using a NON-THERMAL process.
Just because something is done environmentally stupid today; does not mean that a more cost effective, profitable and environmentally sustainable process is coming. At one time, Gold was mined by blasting water and eroding the sides of mountains. Today, Gold and other ores are mined in much more environmentally friendly methods.
Not many people know that, thanks!
They are done in regions where there is no environment to destroy, salt flats
Brine is toxic. It’s heavier than water, very base and is found below the water table. Allowing it to evaporate allows for leakage and contamination of ground water and literally killing land that is surrounding the area
Wouldn’t it be better to pump it up from the deepest part of the Brine pool; process it to remove marketable products (Sodash, Potash, Lithium Carbonate, Magnesium, Graphitr, etc) and then pump it back down into a shallow area of the Brine Pool? Just go over a mile or two, and pump it back down? That’s one of the goals that is being promoted
There is no ground water in salt flats.
I live just north of Salt Lake City, UT
Where do you think we get water for agriculture and the city? Yup, ground water down to about 75 feet. Much deeper than that you hit Brine
WA's South West is already home to the world's largest lithium mine:
https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/b55a7ed979f82553cadc1e65519fede3?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1016&cropW=1524&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575
http://www.lithiummine.com/lithium-mining-in-australia
Lithium is highly reactive. Unlike copper or iron, it is not found in a pure ore. Australia is the largest hard rock mine in the world; with perhaps the bulk being recovered from Brine.
It can all be done cleaner, faster and cheaper. Like everything else it takes time money