On Tuesday, major outlets like The Verge reported a significant discovery in southern Arkansas that could reshape the global battery market. Researchers discovered enough lithium in the region to meet and potentially surpass global demand for batteries.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the southwestern region of Arkansas contains an estimated 5 to 19 million tons of lithium. This amount is nine times what the world will need for automotive batteries by 2030. However, the USGS emphasized that producing this lithium will depend on developing technology to extract it from the brine where it’s found.
Lithium is essential for rechargeable batteries in EVs and other devices. As the U.S. pushes for widespread EV adoption and works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, securing a domestic supply of critical minerals like lithium has become a top priority.
The lithium is located within the Smackover Formation, a geological structure made up of permeable limestone that spans parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. This formation, created from an ancient sea, has been a historical site for oil and gas production for decades.
Until recently, lithium-rich brine was considered waste from oil and gas operations. Now, companies are racing to develop cost-effective methods to extract lithium.
ExxonMobil, a U.S. energy company, plans to begin lithium production by 2027. After securing drilling rights for 120,000 acres within the Arkansas Smackover Formation, the company aims to become a leading supplier of lithium for EVs.
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