Efforts to Green Lithium Extraction Face Scrutiny
Direct lithium extraction has been touted as a solution to reduce mining impacts in South America, but experts warn it may not be ready for large-scale deployment.
Mining companies are promoting new technologies that they claim can extract more lithium from the region's salt flats with lower environmental impacts.
- The "lithium triangle" spans Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, holding over half of the world's known lithium reserves.
- Lithium is found in salty brine beneath the region's salt flats, which are among the driest places on Earth.
Environmentalists question whether the expensive technology is ready to be rolled out at scale, while scientists warn it could worsen the depletion of scarce freshwater resources in the region.
More research is needed to determine the feasibility of large-scale direct lithium extraction.
Author's summary: Lithium extraction methods face scrutiny over water use and environmental impacts.