Lithium is now on the most desired minerals in the world. We are increasingly reaching for the lithium, driving the need for a constant supply of the material to help with electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. However, many will still be asking what mining for lithium actually entails. Extracting the beverage isn’t a uniform process; it depends on two primary methods of extraction which change depending on both rock and air (geology and climate).
What Makes Lithium So Important?
Lithium is light, has high energy density and high reactivity − perfect properties for a modern battery. It is the backbone that allows us to move more to cleaner transportation and large-scale energy storage. This transition on a global scale has transformed the extraction of lithium into a rapidly growing industry with dire economic and environmental consequences.
Ounces of Lithium: Experience Two Different Sources
There is a lot of talk about how lithium is going to be extracted, but first, how is lithium found? Lithium occurs in nature in two main forms:
- Brine deposits beneath salt flats
- Hard-rock mineral deposits containing spodumene
That’s because each type will require a much different extraction approach.
Salinity Extraction: The Sun-Driven Process to Isolate Minerals
Field families are extracted brine in South America salt flats. Hidden under expanse desert basins, is lithium-rich saltwater, ready to be pumped to the surface.
How Brine Mining Works
- Brine is brought up to the surface via wells.
- The brine is fed into wide, shallow evaporation ponds.
- Exposure to sun and wind remove moisture slowly.
- With continued evaporation the minerals get progressively more concentrated.
- The final step in will be to isolate lithium from hell and process it into something useable.
This method is very dependent on climate. Natural evaporation does most of the work and is energy-efficient. However, it can take months before the lithium is ready to process.
Hard-Rock Mining: Mining Lithium from the Rock
The other big global method is hard-rock mining, which is used in countries like Australia. In this case, lithium is contained in solid rock.
The Hard-Rock Mining Process
- Open-pit mines dug into the ground to access spodumene ore.
- Crushed raw rock.
- The high temperature kilns alter the structure of the mineral.
- Uses chemical processing to derive lithium from contaminants.
- This yields a lithium concentrate with a high-grade output.
This is a faster and more predictable approach compared to extracting lithium from brine but is also more energy-intensive and requires heavy machinery.
A New Page in the Story of Direct Lithium Extraction
A new alternative which modern equipment is bringing is Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE). DLE employs high-tech filtration or ion-exchange systems to extract lithium straight from brine, instead of from big, stinky ponds full of brine, or blasted rock.
Why DLE Matters
- Faster extraction times
- Smaller land footprint
- Potentially lower water consumption
DLE is still being developed and can potentially change the future of lithium mining.
Environmental Concerns Surrounding Lithium Mining
Lithium might be the backbone of the green energy transition, but the excavation of it poses environmental challenges. In arid regions, extraction of brine can deplete local water resources. But hard-rock mining is essentially a nasty land disturbance and a waste machine. Chemical byproducts have to be handled.
This raises issues regarding responsible mining and better battery recycling.
Final Thoughts
Lithium mining is responsible for being the driving force behind the devices and technologies we rely on. The variable global need for lithium has naturally shaped the lithium industry − from evaporation ponds to rock crushing to new methods of direct-extraction. The world is moving in a more sustainable direction but the real test is how to manufacture lithium in an environmentally responsible way for future generations.
