The Conversation (0)
March 24, 2024
Premier1 Lithium Limited (ASX:PLC) (“Premier1” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the commencement of fieldwork at the Montague lithium project. Premier1 has the rights to earn up to 80% of the lithium rights on the project in a farm-in announced on 5 May 2023 with Gateway Mining (ASX:GML).
HIGHLIGHTS
- Field program commenced at Montague lithium project
- Areas of interest defined using fractionation vectoring of previously mapped pegmatites
- Extensive new pegmatites mapped in first phase
The Montague Project is located approximately 70km north of Sandstone within the Gum Creek Greenstone Belt. The greenstone belt is dominated by a sequence of metamorphosed basalts and volcano-sedimentary rocks that are centred around the Montague granodiorite dome and bounded by monzogranitic to granodioritic intrusions to the east. A major NNW-SSE striking shear zone crosscuts the greenstone belt. Transported regolith and cover mask a significant portion of the area west of the shear zone.
The Montague project was previously recognised as a large target predicted by SensOre’s machine learning system. The target identified previously unrecognised lithium potential within a greenstone belt with no previous lithium exploration. Historical data reviewed prior to acquisition did show that the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) had mapped several pegmatites in the area.
Recent fieldwork by Premier1 has identified abundant new pegmatites along a mafic-ultramafic and siliclastic sequence of the greenstone belt up to 1km west of the main granite contact to the east. Potassium-Rubidium (K/Rb) ratios defined at least two areas of interest that showed high fractionation of below 40 that indicate prospectivity for Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatites.
The recently commenced first phase of field mapping and sampling has identified numerous newly mapped pegmatites in these two areas of interest. Occasionally, green mica has been identified and a first set of samples has been sent to the lab. Feldspar samples were taken of all newly mapped pegmatites to determine fractionation trends for further target vectoring and identification of potential drill targets for H2 2024.
Richard Taylor, CEO of Premier1, commented:
“While we wait for assays from our first phase drilling at Abbotts North, the team has quickly mobilised to Montague which is showing considerable prospectivity based on initial surface mapping of pegmatites. Montague is shaping up to be every bit as exciting as the other projects in our portfolio.”
Figure 1: Regional geological map of the Montague project including identified ML targets.
Figure 2: Newly mapped pegmatites within the Montague project area.
Figure 3: Newly mapped pegmatite outcrop in the field.
This release was approved by the CEO.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Premier1 Lithium, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
PLC:AU
4h
Galan Declines AU$240M Bid for Argentina Projects
Galan Lithium (ASX:GLN) has rejected a US$150 million (AU$240 million) cash bid from China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co and France’s Renault Group to acquire its Hombre Muerto West and Candelas lithium brine projects in Argentina, The West Australian reports.
Described as unsolicited, conditional, and non-binding, the offer from battery materials giant Zhejiang Huayou and EV manufacturer Renault was deemed “opportunistic” and “undervalued,” the report noted.
Galan and its advisors refused the offer, asserting confidence in the long-term value of its flagship Hombre Muerto West project, which is nearing production of 5,400 tonnes per annum (tpa) of lithium carbonate equivalent. They believe the project holds greater potential to deliver superior returns for shareholders.
Click here to connect with Galan Lithium (ASX:GLN) for an Investor Presentation
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11h
Top 7 Global Lithium Stocks in 2025
The lithium market faced continued pressure in Q1 2025 as oversupply and weaker-than-expected demand pushed prices to a four-year low, with the lithium carbonate CIF North Asia price dipping below US$9,550 per metric ton.
The broad market decline led many analysts to speculate that the market had bottomed and a rebound was imminent. This was further supported by production cuts in China and Australia aimed at stabilizing supply.
Despite near-term challenges, long-term prospects remain strong, highlighted by Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) AU$6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, the company formed by the merger of Allkem and Livent.
The major is also reportedly in talks to develop the Roche Dure lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Long term electric vehicle (EV) market growth and a projected draw down in excess supply has prompted Benchmark Intelligence researchers to forecast a 12 percent compound annual growth rate for the lithium market over the next 10 years.
Even against this tumultuous backdrop, some lithium stocks listed in Canada, Australia and the United States performed strongly. Below the Investing News Network has gathered the top gaining lithium companies year-to-date using TradingView’s stock screener.
All lithium stocks listed had market caps above $20 million in their respective currencies when data was gathered. Data for Canadian stocks was collected on March 25, 2025, data for Australian stocks was gathered on March 27, 2025, and data for US stocks was gathered on March 31, 2025.
1. Power Metals (TSXV:PWM)
Year-to-date gain: 163.04 percent
Market cap: C$196.57 million
Share price: C$1.21
Exploration company Power Metals holds a portfolio of diversified assets in Ontario and Québec, Canada. The company’s flagship Case Lake project in Ontario hosts spodumene-bearing lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites.
In November 2024, Power Metals identified a new pegmatite zone at Case Lake through soil sampling. The samples from the zone, located north-northwest of its West Joe prospect, revealed anomalous levels of cesium, tantalum, lithium and rubidium, which the company said "affirmed prospective drill targets" for its winter exploration program.
On February 10, Power Metals announced the beginning of work associated with the maiden mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment for Case Lake, which it expected to release in Q1 and Q2 of 2025 respectively.
Days later, on February 14, the company followed that announcement by releasing the final assays from its Phase 3 drilling at Case Lake, including “exceptional cesium oxide and tantalum intercepts” from the West Joe prospect. Power Metals stated it planned to begin its 2025 Phase 1 drilling sometime after early March.
The company's share price rose in the weeks following the pair of announcements to reach a Q1 high of C$1.46 on February 25.
2. NOA Lithium Brines (TSXV:NOAL)
Year-to-date gain: 41.18 percent
Market cap: C$46.99 million
Share price: C$0.36
NOA is a lithium exploration and development company with three projects in Argentina’s Lithium Triangle region. The company’s flagship Rio Grande project and prospective Arizaro and Salinas Grandes land packages total more than 140,000 hectares.
In late January, NOA reported its completion of 28 vertical electrical sounding geophysics tests at the Rio Grande project as part of its 2025 exploration program.
The recent testing expands on past studies and will aid NOA's water exploration program, refining one of three identified potential water sources.
In a subsequent corporate update on February 7, NOA outlined its plans for Q1 2025, which largely focused on the advancement of the Rio Grande project through geophysical evaluation and water exploration drilling. The company also plans to review engineering proposals for preliminary economic assessment work.
The company's share price began climbing in early February and reached a Q1 high of C$0.37 on March 13.
The high came days after a Simply Wall Street report highlighted insider buying at the company, a signal of strong internal confidence.
According to the report, NOA insiders invested C$862,600 over the prior six months, with C$358,000 of that coming in a single transaction by CEO and Director Gabriel Rubacha. Additionally, they had not sold any shares in the prior 12 months.
3. Frontier Lithium (TSXV:FL)
Year-to-date gain: 35.56 percent
Market cap: C$141.38 million
Share price: C$0.61
Pre-production mining company Frontier Lithium aims to be a strategic and integrated supplier of premium spodumene concentrates as well as battery-grade lithium salts in North America.
The Company's flagship PAK lithium project, which is a joint venture with Mitsubishi (TSE:8058), holds the “largest land position and resource” in a premium lithium mineral district located in the Great Lakes region of Ontario, Canada. Frontier also owns the Spark deposit, located northwest of the PAK project.
Shares of Frontier Lithium reached a Q1 high of C$0.79 on March 4. After already trending upwards through February, its share price peaked alongside news that the Government of Canada and the Ontario Government supported the company's plans to build a critical minerals refinery in Northern Ontario.
Once complete the proposed lithium conversion facility will process lithium from PAK into around 20,000 metric tons (MT) of lithium salts per year. “This expected capacity would support the production of batteries for approximately 500,000 electric vehicles per year,” Frontier's statement reads.
1. Tyranna Resources (ASX:TYX)
Year-to-date gain: 40 percent
Market cap: AU$23.02 million
Share price: AU$0.007
Africa-focused explorer Tyranna Resources is currently focused on its flagship Muvero lithium project in Angola.
In a January 30 update, Tyranna reported it completed a drill program totalling 11 diamond drill holes spanning 817 meters. Initial results from drilling at the Muvero and Loop prospects confirmed visible spodumene-bearing pegmatite. Additionally, core from the Muvero prospect will be used for metallurgical testing and structural data.
The company is also pursuing and evaluating additional projects that align with its strategy of focusing on in-demand metals, and had applied for one licence at that time.
Shares of Tyranna reached a quarterly high of AU$0.007 several times over the three month period.
2. Liontown Resources (LTR:AU)
Year-to-date gain: 24.53 percent
Market cap: AU$1.58 billion
Share price: AU$0.66
Liontown Resources has two assets in Western Australia, including the producing Kathleen Valley mine, which entered production during the second half of 2024 and transitioned to commercial production in January 2025.
The company's Buldania project in the Eastern Goldfields Province of Western Australia has an initial mineral resource of 15 million MT at 1.0 percent lithium oxide.
In its fiscal H1 2025 financial update, Liontown reported that over 100,000 wet metric tons of spodumene concentrate had been shipped from Kathleen Valley between July and the end of December.
Liontown’s shares rose to a Q1 high of AU$0.735 on March 19, 2025, shortly after the release of the half year results.
3. Delta Lithium (ASX:DLI)
Year-to-date gain: 9.09 percent
Market cap: AU$125.39 million
Share price: AU$0.18
Delta Lithium is a diversified exploration and development company focused on discovering high quality, lithium bearing pegmatite deposits in Western Australia.
Currently, Delta is developing the Mount Ida gold and lithium project, which reportedly has a JORC-compliant resource of 14.6 million MT grading 1.2 percent. Additionally, the company is exploring its Yinnetharra lithium project, including the Malinda deposit, in the Upper Gascoyne Region.
Company shares registered a Q1 high of AU$0.20 on January 14.
On January 21, Delta released an exploration update for Yinnetharra that highlighted drilling and metallurgical results from the M1 pegmatite at the Malinda deposit.
“The program has realised highly positive metallurgical results, with pilot plant spodumene recoveries exceeding our Internal financial modelling and proving the whole-of-ore flotation flowsheet as suitable for the M1 mineralogy,” Managing Director James Croser said.
In a subsequent financial statement, Delta noted the submission of the mining lease application for the Malinda mining area and the commencement of Native Title negotiations. The company is also advancing its environmental permitting process at Malinda.
Top US Lithium Stocks
1. SQM (NYSE:SQM)
Year-to-date gain: 9.29 percent
Market cap: AU$11.36 billion
Share price: US$40.23
SQM is one of the world’s largest lithium producers with projects in South America and China, outputting both lithium carbonate and hydroxide.
In 2024, SQM produced approximately 210,000 MT of lithium, with about 180,000 MT sourced from its chemical plant in northern Chile and an additional 30,000 MT processed in China.
The lithium major also saw lithium sales increase 21 percent year-over-year to nearly 205,000 MT of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).
“However, the increase in volume was not enough to offset the continuous decline in prices, a trend we have been observing since early 2023,” the 2024 earnings report noted. “As a result, our average realized price dropped by more than 64 percent, from US$30,467 per ton in 2023 to US$10,936 per ton in 2024.”
Shares of SQM reached a Q1 high of US$45.61 on March 17, 2025.
In late February, SQM’s US$7 million investment in Andrada Mining’s (LSE:ATM,OTCQB:ATMTF)Lithium Ridge project received final approval from the Namibian government. The deal will see SQM obtain a 30 percent stake in the project with an option to increase to 50 percent.
FAQs for investing in lithium
How much lithium is on Earth?
While we don't know how much total lithium is on Earth, the US Geological Survey estimates that global reserves of lithium stand at 22 billion metric tons. Of that, 9.2 billion MT are located in Chile, and 5.7 billion MT are in Australia.
Where is lithium mined?
Lithium is mined throughout the world, but the two countries that produce the most are Australia and Chile. Australia's lithium comes from primarily hard-rock deposits, while Chile's comes from lithium brines. Chile is part of the Lithium Triangle alongside Argentina and Bolivia, although those two countries have a lower annual output.
Rounding out the top five lithium-producing countries behind Australia and Chile are China, Argentina and Brazil.
What is lithium used for?
Lithium has many uses, including the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones and other tech, as well as pharmaceuticals, ceramics, grease, lubricants and heat-resistant glass. Still, it is largely the electric vehicle industry that is boosting demand.
How to invest in lithium?
Those looking to get into the lithium market have many options when it comes to how to invest in lithium.
Lithium stocks like those mentioned above could be a good option for investors interested in the space. If you’re looking to diversify instead of focusing on one stock, there is the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (NYSE:LIT), an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on the metal. Experienced investors can also look at lithium futures.
Unlike many commodities, investors cannot physically hold lithium due to its dangerous properties.
How to buy lithium stocks?
Through the use of a broker or an investing service such as an app, investors can purchase lithium stocks and ETFs that match their investing outlook.
Before buying a lithium stock, potential investors should take time to research the companies they’re considering; they should also decide how many shares will be purchased, and what price they are willing to pay. With many options on the market, it's critical to complete due diligence before making any investment decisions.
It's also important for investors to keep their goals in mind when choosing their investing method. There are many factors to consider when choosing a broker, as well as when looking at investing apps — a few of these include the broker or app's reputation, their fee structure and investment style.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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15h
Livium to Advance Battery Recycling with AU$850,000 Government Grant
Livium ( ASX:LIT) subsidiary Envirostream Australia said on Wednesday (April 2) that it has executed an AU$850,000 grant funding agreement with the Western Australian government.
The grant will partially fund the development of Envirostream’s battery-recycling facility in Western Australia.
The money is being provided via an electronic waste (e-waste) infrastructure grants program, an initiative designed to support a statewide ban on sending e-waste to landfills that began on July 1, 2024.
Livium first announced the grant in November 2024, saying that the recycling facility will collect, sort, discharge and store batteries to establish integrated end-of-life battery processing domestically.
The facility forms part of Envirostream’s efforts to build a nationwide solution for e-waste management.
“This funding agreement with the WA Government represents another significant step forward in our mission to establish a sustainable national battery recycling ecosystem,” said Livium Managing Director and CEO Simon Linge.
“The company’s long-term recycling strategy also involves the development of battery processing capabilities in WA and other states once minimum collection volumes are met," he added.
According to Livium, the grant is part of a recently announced additional AU$5.4 million in support for e-waste recycling initiatives in Western Australia. This amount is on top of AU$10 million in government grants to date.
Envirostream was launched in 2017 and is the first onshore company to offer lithium and mixed battery recycling in Australia. Its goal is to provide solutions for lithium-ion battery recycling.
Livium has been strengthening its position in the battery-recycling industry over the years.
On March 24, the company signed an exclusive recycling agreement with leading power tool manufacturer Hilti. Livium will exclusively recycle Hilti Fleet Management batteries over an initial period of three years.
The deal officially commenced on Tuesday (April 1).
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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01 April
4 Best-performing ASX Lithium Stocks of 2025
Global demand for lithium presents a significant opportunity for Australia, which is home to many ASX lithium mining stocks as the world's top lithium producer.
Australia’s abundant lithium reserves and strong mining sector, position the country as a key player in the battery value chain into the 2030s. However, rapid electric vehicle (EV) market growth projections drove increased lithium mining rates, leading to a global surplus.
Against that backdrop, Australia’s lithium sector faced headwinds in Q1 2025 due to falling global lithium prices and continued market oversupply.
As profit margins across the sector tightened, mining companies implemented production cuts, shuttered projects and cancelled expansion plans. Additionally, some refining operations were put on hold amid the unfavourable economic conditions.
The challenges that have plagued the lithium market over the past year have prompted speculation that the market has bottomed and prices will begin to recover by year’s end.
Despite the current downturn the lithium market long term outlook remains bright. The closing of Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO)AU$6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium underscores the long-term potential that major miners see in the lithium sector. Rio Tinto also made headlines in late March with reports that it was engaged in preliminary talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo about developing the massive Roche Dure lithium deposit.
Below the Investing News Network looks at the top four ASX-listed lithium companies by year-to-date gains.
The list below was generated using TradingView’s stock screener on March 27, 2025, and Australian lithium companies with market caps above AU$10 million at that time were considered for inclusion.
1. Tyranna Resources (ASX:TYX)
Year-to-date gain: 40 percent
Market cap: AU$23.02 million
Share price: AU$0.007
Africa-focused explorer Tyranna Resources is currently focused on its flagship Muvero lithium project in Angola.
In a January 30 update, Tyranna reported it completed a drill program totalling 11 diamond drill holes spanning 817 meters. Initial results from drilling at the Muvero and Loop prospects confirmed visible spodumene-bearing pegmatite. Additionally, core from the Muvero prospect will be used for metallurgical testing and structural data.
The company is also pursuing and evaluating additional projects that align with its strategy of focusing on in-demand metals, and had applied for one licence at that time.
Shares of Tyranna reached a quarterly high of AU$0.007 several times over the three month period.
2. Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR)
Year-to-date gain: 24.53 percent
Market cap: AU$1.58 billion
Share price: AU$0.66
Liontown Resources has two assets in Western Australia, including the producing Kathleen Valley mine, which entered production during the second half of 2024 and transitioned to commercial production in January 2025.
The company's Buldania project in the Eastern Goldfields Province of Western Australia has an initial mineral resource of 15 million tonnes at 1.0 percent lithium oxide.
In its fiscal H1 2025 financial update, Liontown reported that over 100,000 wet metric tons of spodumene concentrate had been shipped from Kathleen Valley between July and the end of December.
Liontown’s shares rose to a Q1 high of AU$0.735 on March 19, 2025, shortly after the release of the half year results.
3. Delta Lithium (ASX:DLI)
Year-to-date gain: 9.09 percent
Market cap: AU$125.39 million
Share price: AU$0.18
Delta Lithium is a diversified exploration and development company focused on discovering high quality, lithium bearing pegmatite deposits in Western Australia.
Currently, Delta is developing the Mount Ida gold and lithium project, which reportedly has a JORC-compliant resource of 14.6 million tonnes grading 1.2 percent. Additionally, the company is exploring its Yinnetharra lithium project, including the Malinda deposit, in the Upper Gascoyne Region.
Company shares registered a Q1 high of AU$0.20 on January 14.
On January 21, Delta released an exploration update for Yinnetharra that highlighted drilling and metallurgical results from the M1 pegmatite at the Malinda deposit.
“The program has realised highly positive metallurgical results, with pilot plant spodumene recoveries exceeding our Internal financial modelling and proving the whole-of-ore flotation flowsheet as suitable for the M1 mineralogy,” Managing Director James Croser said.
In a subsequent financial statement, Delta noted the submission of the mining lease application for the Malinda mining area and the commencement of Native Title negotiations. The company is also advancing its environmental permitting process at Malinda.
4. Future Battery Minerals (ASX:FBM)
Year-to-date gain: 5.56 percent
Market cap: AU$12.64 million
Share price: AU$0.019
Explorer and developer Future Battery Minerals (FBM) is advancing its flagship Coolgardie lithium project in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields region.
The project includes FBM's wholly owned Kangaroo Hills lithium project and the 85 percent-owned Miriam lithium project.
Shares of FBM marked a Q1 high of AU$0.028 on January 9, 2025.
On January 22, FBM announced the expansion of the Coolgardie project footprint through the application for new tenements near the asset.
In its report for the quarter ended in December 2024, released in late January, FBM outlined near-term plans for the Coolgardie project, including completing its ground gravity survey. The company also reported that initial drilling of high-priority lithium targets at the Miriam project remains on track for H1 2025, while the mining lease application for Kangaroo Hills is advancing.
4. Future Battery Minerals (ASX:FBM)
Year-to-date gain: 5.56 percent
Market cap: AU$12.64 million
Share price: AU$0.019
Explorer and developer Future Battery Minerals (FBM) is advancing its flagship Coolgardie lithium project in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields region.
The project includes FBM's wholly owned Kangaroo Hills lithium project and the 85 percent-owned Miriam lithium project.
Shares of FBM marked a Q1 high of AU$0.028 on January 9, 2025.
On January 22, FBM announced the expansion of the Coolgardie project footprint through the application for new tenements near the asset.
In its report for the quarter ended in December 2024, released in late January, FBM outlined near-term plans for the Coolgardie project, including completing its ground gravity survey. The company also reported that initial drilling of high-priority lithium targets at the Miriam project remains on track for H1 2025, while the mining lease application for Kangaroo Hills is advancing.
FAQs for investing in lithium
What is lithium?
Lithium is the lightest metal on the periodic table, and it is used in a wide variety of applications, including lithium-ion batteries, pharmaceuticals and industrial applications like glass and steel.
How do lithium-ion batteries work?
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries work by using the flow of lithium ions in the battery's cell to power a device.
A lithium-ion battery has one or more cells, depending on the amount of energy storage it is capable of, and each cell has a positive electrode and negative electrode with an electrolyte separating them. When the battery is in use, lithium ions flow from the negative electrode to the positive electrode, running out of power once all have transferred. When the battery is charging, ions flow the opposite way.
Where is lithium mined?
Lithium is mined from two types of deposits, hard rock and evaporated brines. Most of the world's lithium production comes out of Australia, which hosts the Greenbushes hard-rock lithium mine. The next-largest producing country is Chile, which like Argentina and Bolivia is located in South America's Lithium Triangle.
Lithium in this famed area comes from evaporated brines, including the Salar de Atacama. Lithium can also be found in sedimentary deposits, but currently none are producing.
Where is lithium found in Australia?
Australia is the world’s top producer of lithium, and its lithium mines are all located in Western Australia except for one, which is Core Lithium’s (ASX:CXO,OTC Pink:CXOXF) Finniss mine in the Northern Territory. Western Australia accounts for around half of global lithium production, and the state is looking to become a hub for critical elements.
Who owns lithium mines in Australia?
Several companies own lithium mines in Australia, including some of the biggest ASX lithium stocks. In addition to the entities discussed above, others include: Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS,OTC Pink:PILBF) with its Pilgangoora operations; Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium (HKEX:0358), which owns the Mount Marion mine alongside Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN,OTC Pink:MALRF); and Tianqi Lithium (SZSE:002466), which is a partial owner of Greenbushes via its stake in operator Talison Lithium.
Who is Australia’s largest lithium producer?
Australia’s largest lithium producer is Albemarle (NYSE:ALB), which has interests in both the Greenbushes and Wodgina hard-rock lithium mines. Greenbushes is the world’s largest lithium mine, and Albemarle holds 49 percent ownership of operator Talison Lithium’s parent company.
Albermarle also has 60 percent ownership of Mineral Resources’ Wodgina mine, and owns the Kemerton lithium production facility as part of a 60/40 joint venture with Mineral Resources.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, currently hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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28 March
California Touts US$540 Billion Salton Sea Lithium Discovery
Scientists have discovered an estimated US$540 billion worth of lithium beneath California’s Salton Sea, a finding that could reshape the global energy market and reduce US reliance on foreign lithium supply.
The Salton Sea, located in Southern California’s Imperial County, has long been considered an environmental concern due to its receding shoreline and rising air pollution.
Now, researchers funded by the US Department of Energy have confirmed the area holds approximately 18 million metric tons of lithium — far more than previous estimates of 4 million metric tons.
“This is one of the largest lithium brine deposits in the world. This could make the United States completely self-sufficient in lithium and stop importing it through China,” the Daily Galaxy quotes Michael McKibben, a geochemistry professor at the University of California, Riverside, as saying in a Monday (March 24) article.
With global demand for lithium surging due to the rise of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, California officials are viewing the discovery as a potential economic windfall.
Governor Gavin Newsom has dubbed the Salton Sea region the “Saudi Arabia of lithium,” underscoring its potential to dominate the supply chain for battery production. Local officials have also branded the area as “Lithium Valley,” hoping to generate new revenue streams and job opportunities for Imperial County, one of California’s poorest regions.
Currently, talk is circulating about plans to allocate 80 percent of the revenue from lithium extraction to local development, which could significantly improve infrastructure and public services.
Despite the economic promise, extracting lithium from the Salton Sea’s geothermal brine presents challenges.
The process involves pumping lithium-rich brine from deep underground, separating the lithium and re-injecting the liquid back into the earth. While this technique is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional open-pit mining, it still raises concerns over water consumption, air quality and potential harm to Indigenous lands.
The Colorado River, a critical water source for California, is already facing shortages, and large-scale lithium extraction could further strain the region’s limited water resources.
Additionally, the Salton Sea’s receding lakebed has led to increased levels of toxic dust in the air, which has been linked to rising asthma rates among local residents. Mining operations could exacerbate these public health risks, making environmental safeguards a critical component of any development plans.
Adding to the complexity of lithium extraction is an evolving geopolitical landscape. China, the world’s largest lithium producer, has recently taken steps to tighten control over its battery technology exports.
Jiangsu Jiuwu Hi-Tech (SZSE:30063), a Chinese firm, announced in February that it would halt exports of a key lithium-processing component known as a sorbent. Sorbents are crucial in lithium extraction from brine, and export restrictions could disrupt supply chains for US and European companies looking to develop alternative lithium sources.
The US, the European Union and allied countries have accelerated initiatives such as the Minerals Security Partnership, launched in 2022, to secure alternative sources of lithium and other essential materials.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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26 March
Top 5 Canadian Lithium Stocks of 2025
The lithium market continued to battle headwinds during the first quarter of 2025 as residual oversupply weighed on prices, pushing them to a four year low.
Weaker-than-expected demand to start the year also added pressure to the oversupplied market, resulting in the lithium carbonate CIF North Asia price to fall below US$9,550 per metric ton, its lowest point since 2021.
Analysts have suggested the persistent downturn is the signaling of a market bottom. This theory is further supported by a projected production reduction that will help absorb market oversupply.
“Lithium market conditions — particularly during the latter part of 2024 – led to growing producer restraint, both in China and elsewhere,” wrote Fastmarkets’ head of battery raw material analytics Paul Lusty. “Australian production cuts started in January 2024 but built momentum during the year, with several miners announcing production cuts, plans to place plants on care and maintenance and the suspension of planned expansions owing to market conditions.”
The global commodities firm is forecasting a shift in market dynamics, with analysts projecting a much tighter balance ahead. Initial estimates peg 2025’s surplus at 10,000 metric tons before the market moves into a deficit position in 2026.
How are Canadian lithium stocks performing against this backdrop?
The Investing News Network has created an overview of the top-performing Canadian lithium stocks. While companies on the TSX, TSXV and CSE were considered, only stocks on the TSXV made the list this time.
This list was created on March 25, 2025, using TradingView's stock screener, and all data was current at that time. Only companies with market caps above C$10 million for the TSX and TSXV and above C$5 million for the CSE are included.
1. Power Metals (TSXV:PWM)
Year-to-date gain: 163.04 percent
Market cap: C$196.57 million
Share price: C$1.21
Exploration company Power Metals holds a portfolio of diversified assets in Ontario and Québec, Canada. The company’s flagship Case Lake project in Ontario hosts spodumene-bearing lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites.
In November 2024, Power Metals identified a new pegmatite zone at Case Lake through soil sampling. The samples from the zone, located north-northwest of its West Joe prospect, revealed elevated levels of cesium, tantalum, lithium and rubidium, which the company said "affirmed prospective drill targets" for its winter program.
On February 10, Power Metals announced the beginning of work associated with the maiden mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment for Case Lake, which it plans to release in Q1 and Q2 of 2025 respectively. Days later on February 14, the company followed that announcement by releasing the final assays from its Phase 3 drilling at Case Lake, including “exceptional cesium oxide and tantalum intercepts” from the West Joe prospect.
The company's share price rose in the weeks following the pair of announcements to reach a Q1 high of C$1.46 on February 25.
2. NOA Lithium Brines (TSXV:NOAL)
Year-to-date gain: 41.18 percent
Market cap: C$46.99 million
Share price: C$0.36
NOA is a lithium exploration and development company with three projects in Argentina’s Lithium Triangle region. The company’s flagship Rio Grande project and prospective Arizaro and Salinas Grandes land packages total more than 140,000 hectares.
In late January, NOA reported its completion of 28 vertical electrical sounding geophysics tests at the Rio Grande project as part of its 2025 exploration program.
The recent testing expands on past studies and will aid NOA's water exploration program, refining one of three identified potential water sources.
In a subsequent corporate update on February 7, NOA outlined its plans for Q1 2025, which largely focused on the advancement of the Rio Grande project through geophysical evaluation and water exploration drilling. The company also plans to review engineering proposals for preliminary economic assessment work.
The company's share price began climbing in early February and reached a Q1 high of C$0.37 on March 13.
The high came days after a Simply Wall Street report highlighted insider buying at the company, a signal of strong internal confidence. According to the report, NOA insiders invested C$862,600 over the prior six months, with C$358,000 of that coming in a single transaction by CEO and Director Gabriel Rubacha. Additionally, they had not sold any shares in the prior 12 months.
3. Frontier Lithium (TSXV:FL)
Year-to-date gain: 35.56 percent
Market cap: C$141.38 million
Share price: C$0.61
Pre-production mining company Frontier Lithium aims to be a strategic and integrated supplier of premium spodumene concentrates as well as battery-grade lithium salts in North America.
The Company's flagship PAK lithium project, which is a joint venture with Mitsubishi (TSE:8058), holds the “largest land position and resource” in a premium lithium mineral district located in the Great Lakes region of Ontario, Canada. Frontier also owns the Spark deposit, located northwest of the PAK project.
Shares of Frontier Lithium reached a Q1 high of C$0.79 on March 4. After already trending upwards through February, its share price peaked alongside news that the Government of Canada and the Ontario Government supported the company's plans to build a critical minerals refinery in Northern Ontario.
Once complete the proposed lithium conversion facility will process lithium from PAK into around 20,000 metric tons of lithium salts per year. “This expected capacity would support the production of batteries for approximately 500,000 electric vehicles per year,” Frontier's statement reads.
4. Q2 Metals (TSXV:QTWO)
Year-to-date gain: 30.77 percent
Market cap: C$144.59 million
Share price: C$1.02
Exploration firm Q2 Metals is exploring three lithium properties — Cisco, Mia and Stellar — in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada. Its Mia project hosts the Mia trend, which spans over 10 kilometers, and its Stellar lithium property comprises 77 claims 6 kilometers north of the Mia property.
In 2024, Q2 Metals acquired the Cisco lithium property and spent much of the year exploring the area. In December, Q2 acquired a 100 percent interest in 545 additional mineral claims, tripling its land position at the Cisco lithium property. A February 12 update reported that metallurgical testing on 2024 drill core showed that the primary lithium-bearing mineral in Cisco pegmatite is spodumene.
On February 26, Q2 announced that investors exercised 12.8 million share purchase warrants at C$0.60 each, generating C$7.68 million in proceeds for the company. The warrants were issued through a private placement in February 2023.
Shares of Q2 jumped to a Q1 high price of C$1.08 on March 18. The following day, later the company released some early results from its ongoing winter drill program, which is targeting 6,000 to 8,000 meters of drilling using two diamond drill rigs. The first four holes intersected “multiple wide intercepts of spodumene pegmatite, expanding previously identified mineralization.” The longest continuous interval of spodumene mineralization is 179.6 meters.
5. Wealth Minerals (TSXV:WML)
Year-to-date gain: 20 percent
Market cap: C$18.47 million
Share price: C$0.06
Lithium exploration company Wealth Minerals owns three exploration-stage projects — Kuska, Pabellón and Yapuckuta— all located in Chile.
On February 3, Wealth Minerals released its first news of the year, announcing it penned a joint venture development deal with the Quechua Indigenous Community of Ollagüe for the development of the Kuska project.
Under the deal the Quechua community will hold a 5 percent free-carried interest and a board seat in the JV, ensuring community participation. The partnership may also explore additional projects in the region.
On February 6, Wealth Minerals acquired the Pabellón lithium project, consisting of a portfolio of 26 mineral exploration licenses with an area of 7,600 hectares located in Northern Chile near the Chile-Bolivia border. The project may serve as an additional source of material to Kuska.
The surface of Pabellón hosts South America's only geothermal power plant, Cerro Pabellón, which is majority owned by electricity company ENEL (MIL:ENEL). Wealth Minerals stated it is considering installing a direct lithium extraction unit next to the plant.
The company's share price spiked in mid-January, and touched a Q1 high of C$0.095 on January 31, February 7 and February 10.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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