A California county is the focus of the scientific community's attention as it searches for vast reserves of lithium. The Imperial County has so many rare earth elements that it can produce 375 million batteries. The research is important because lithium is in high demand due to the popularity of electric vehicles. Located on the southeastern border of the US state of California, it is one of the least populated counties in the country. In the border area between the United States and Mexico.
According to SFGate3,400 kilotons of lithium were found in the Salton Sea region. The mineral is mainly found (about 80 percent) in Australia, China and Chile, and US officials predict that demand for lithium will increase by 4,000 percent in the coming decades.
The province's official website said it could take 100 years to fully extract lithium. The California state government said the Salton Sea region is “believed to have the highest concentration of lithium in geothermal brines in the world.”
According to the US Geological Survey, only one percent of the world's lithium is mined and processed in the United States. The latest discovery will give a boost to this industry in the country.
Politico said in a report that EnergySource Minerals, one of three companies spearheading lithium production on the southern coast of the Salton Sea, has said it plans to begin mining in 2025.
After mining begins, the US is expected to overtake China and become the leading country in chemicals. This is expected to eliminate dependence on imports from China and make the US completely self-sufficient in mineral resources.
According to a press release from the province in March, lithium mining will be taxed and 80 percent of this new revenue stream will go directly to the province.