Lithium: Commodity Overview

Mining & Minerals - Evaluations / Lithium, Potash, Halite, & P2O5 Mining Projects

Date posted: 09/25/15

Cameron Perks opines that lithium (Li) is a metallic element that is often found in granitic pegmatites (intrusive igneous rocks), brines (salty solutions), seawater and clays. In pure form, it is soft light silver metal, but in nature it typically occurs as minor components of larger molecules or minerals. Lithium is mostly recovered from lithium-bearing brines (primarily as lithium carbonate) which are formed in saline lakes in desert environments. A prolonged period of natural enrichment and concentration is required to make these brines mineable. Lithium minerals are also sourced from rocks know as pegmatites. Pegmatites are igneous rocks typically characterized by large crystals of the component minerals. Mineable deposits of exotic minerals and rare elements can occur in pegmatites including the tourmaline, emerald and aquamarine-bearing pegmatities of the Americas and a number of rare earth element deposits. The lithium in pegmatites occurs within silicate minerals such as spodumene and petalite, but also as amblygonite, lepidolite (a form of mica) and eucryptite. Lithium from these sources is more difficult to mine and generally more expensive compared to lithium sourced from brines. Recently, seawater has also been considered as a source of lithium, but this has not been proven to be commercially viable. Hectorite clays, have also been identified as a possible lithium source but production methods have not yet been proven. Lithium is processed into lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. The production of lithium carbonate is primarily from brines, whereas lithium hydroxide is produced by hard rock mines. Lithium carbonate is much more cost effective to produce, but lithium hydroxide sells for a premium over lithium carbonate. Lithium is used in batteries (about 30% of the market and growing), pharmaceuticals (used to treat gout and mental illness) and industrial markets (higher grade lithium is used in glass and ceramic manufacture). Good read ..