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Welcome to Australian Lithium

Global lithium resources are estimated (2016) to be just under 47 million metric tons (MT)

Lithium is mined from three types of deposits: brines, pegmatites and sedimentary rocks. Continental brines and pegmatites (or hard-rock ore) are the main sources for commercial lithium production.

Lithium minerals containing lithia (Li2O), such as spodumene, petalite and lepidolite, are mined from open-cut and underground mines, with the largest producers being Australia, China, Zimbabwe and Canada.

Lithium-rich brines from salt lakes are located in the Andes of Chile and Argentina and in the Himalayas of China.

Australia currently has 14 ASX listed companies with Lithium deposits with four ASX listed companies with JORC compliant resources and in 2016 was the world's top producer acccording to the U.S. Geological Survey 2016.

 

Lithium is the lightest of all metals, silvery-white in color, soft and highly reactive and is thought to have been synthesized in the "Big Bang".

Lithium because of it's reactivity only exists naturally on Earth as chemical compounds usually in "Brines" or "Pegamites".

Points of Interest/Controversy

  • Is there adequate lithium in current reserves and resources to meet future world demand?
  • Future electric cars may migrate towards some form of lithium battery due to a number of perceived advantages over NiMH and other alternatives.
  • The lithium battery seems superior to the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and other alternatives in terms of performance, durability and cost.

Australian Lithium is an independent website dedicated to furthering interest and discussion about the Australian lithium mining and export industry.

 

Australian Mining and Energy,
ASX listed shares.