A groundbreaking study led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has uncovered potentially huge lithium reserves underground in southwestern Arkansas, and researchers believe they could far exceed current global demand. states that it has exceeded that of the previous year.
According to a study published in Science Advances, researchers estimate that between 5 million and 19 million tons of lithium reserves exist in the region. If commercially recoverable, that supply could meet projected global demand for lithium for car batteries by more than nine times in 2030, according to a press release from U.S. authorities on Monday.
The study, a collaboration between the USGS and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment’s Office of State Geologists, employed a methodology using water quality testing and machine learning to determine how much lithium is in the brine in the formation known as the Smackover Formation. We estimated whether it exists.
USGS Director David Applegate said the discovery has several significant implications.
“Lithium is a critical mineral for the energy transition, and the potential for increased U.S. production to replace imports has implications for jobs, manufacturing, and supply chain resilience. “It shows the value of science in tackling problems,” he said.
A remnant of an ancient ocean, the Smackover Formation underlies parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. Known for its oil and bromine deposits, it has recently attracted attention for the potential presence of lithium in the highly saline waters associated with deep salt deposits, according to a press release.
Katherine Knirim, the study’s lead researcher and a USGS hydrologist, cautioned that while the estimates are significant, it’s impossible to predict how much could be recovered.
“We estimate that there is enough dissolved lithium in the region to replace lithium imports, including from the United States,” he said. “It is important to note that these estimates are field assessments; we do not estimate what is technically recoverable based on new methods of extracting lithium from brine. ”
The agency said the discovery comes at a critical time, with global demand for lithium increasing due to the production of electric and hybrid vehicles and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. The US currently relies on imports for more than 25% of its lithium needs, according to the USGS.
The researchers used machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence, to create a predictive map of lithium concentrations throughout the smackover layer. The Arkansas samples were analyzed at the USGS Salt Water Research Instrumentation Laboratory in Reston, Virginia, and compared to historical data from the USGS Produced Water Database, according to a press release.
“The USGS, and science, too, works best as a partnership. This important research was made possible thanks to our strong partnership with the Arkansas State Geologist’s Office,” Kunirim said. .
Since 1879, the USGS has served as the nation’s leading source of unbiased scientific information about geology, energy, and mineral resources. It also tracks lithium production, demand, and imports in the United States, a role mandated by the 2020 Energy Act.
