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April 22, 2024
White Cliff Minerals Limited (White Cliff or the Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. EricSondergaard (“Eric”) as Executive Director, effective immediately.
Mr. Sondergaard's appointment to the Board follows his recent appointment as Country Manager for Canada, delivering on White Cliff's stated objective of building a first class operations team. Eric brings over 20 years of operational experience in the mining industry, including significant expertise in frontier exploration and project management. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the identification of key projects recently acquired by the Company and is an expert in remote project development, logistics and has a proven track record of creating value for shareholders.
In conjunction with Mr. Sondergaard's appointment, White Cliff Minerals also announces the retirement of Mr. Ed Mead (“Ed”) from the Board of Directors effective immediately however will continue to provide, as required, consulting services to the Company in relation to its Australian portfolio. The Company would like to thank Ed for his invaluable contribution throughout this transition phase. As part of this ongoing support, and in recognition of the valuable contribution to the formation of the newly focussed and revitalised White Cliff Minerals Ltd, Ed will maintain his full allocation of the Tranche A incentive scheme with the balance becoming void as per the terms and conditions of the incentive scheme itself.
As part of the Board restructure, Troy Whitaker will move to the role of Managing Director of the Company. The remuneration for both Eric and Troy remain unchanged.
Commenting on these developments, White Cliff Chairman, Roderick McIllree, stated: "The changes required to facilitate the change of strategic direction are now complete. We are delighted to welcome someone of Eric’s calibre with a proven track record to the Board. His involvement will be critical as the Company prepares for its maiden field campaign. We also extend our sincere thanks to Ed Mead for his dedication and service to the Company and wish him the best for his future endeavours."
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from White Cliff Minerals Limited, 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.
04 April
CEOL Application Process Update
CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM: CTL), a lithium exploration and development company operating in Chile, further to its announcement on 15 January 2025 ("Application RNS"), provides an update regarding the Special Lithium Operating Contract ("CEOL") application process for the Laguna Verde project.
As outlined in the Application RNS, the Company expected the simplified procedure for the CEOL Award Mechanism to be as follows: Submission of applications closed on 31 January 2025 following which the Ministry IT and legal departments had 5 business days to register and organise the submittal. The Ministry´s Lithium and Salar Unit then has 45 business days to review and analyse the request. Once this analysis is completed and the Lithium and Salar Unit verifies that all the information and documents needed to enter the simplified procedure have been submitted then an administrative act to accept the application will be made.
This timetable indicated that an update from the Government was expected at the beginning of April confirming which applicants will enter direct negotiation on the CEOL with the Ministry. So far, no such update has been made and following recent discussions between CleanTech Lithium and the Ministry, the Company understands that the administration process is still progressing for all applicants. The Company will inform the market as soon as official communication is received.
Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, CleanTech Lithium said:
"Clearly, the process is taking a little longer than we had initially anticipated but we look forward to the response when the Ministry has completed its review process."
For further information contact: | |
CleanTech Lithium PLC | |
Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter | Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321 Chile office: +562-32239222 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak | +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Daniel Fox-Davies | +44 (0) 20 3884 8450 |
Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker) James Asensio | +44 (0) 20 7523 4680 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.
Notes
CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is to scale battery grade lithium at its flagship project, Laguna Verde, using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy.
CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") with reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive evaporation pond construction. For more information, please visit: www.ctlithium.com
Click here for the full release
This article includes content from Cleantech Lithium PLC, 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.
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04 April
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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03 April
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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03 April
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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