The Lithium Rush

Amidst the depths of the earth’s crust, from where rugged mountains rise, lies the fuel of tomorrow. It is called lithium. Lithium is a soft, silvery-white substance that belongs to the group of elements known as the alkali metals. It is the lightest solid element and is highly reactive, which means it does not occur in nature in its elemental form. Instead, it is found in a variety of minerals, which include spodumene, petalite, lepidolite and amblygonite.

One of the most widely used technologies in the world today is lithium-ion batteries. Lithium has a high electrochemical potential, which means it can easily give up electrons to produce electrical energy. This makes it an ideal substance for use in rechargeable batteries, which are used in a wide range of electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries are preferred over other types of batteries due to their high energy density (the ability to store a lot of energy in a small space), and they are light-weight, which makes them ideal for portable devices.

Apart from that, lithium is a very useful element in other fields, for example in the production of ceramics and glass, in lubricants and greases, and in certain pharmaceuticals for the treatment of bipolar disorder (an emotional condition).

Also, lithium is occasionally used in the production of hydrogen fuel cells and as a coolant in nuclear reactors. As these markets continue to grow, the demand for lithium is expected to remain strong.

Although lithium has a low average concentration, it is widely distributed throughout the earth’s crust. Lithium-rich magma can form during the cooling and crystallisation of igneous rocks, such as pegmatite. As the magma cools, the lithium-rich minerals such as spodumene, amblygonite and petalite crystallise and settle to the bottom of the magma chamber. Over time, these minerals can accumulate to form large deposits of lithium ore. Lithium can also be found in brine deposits, which are formed when lithium-rich mineral waters evaporate. The lithium in these salt pans, which are typically found in arid regions (e.g. Salar de Atacama in Chile, or Salar del Hombre Muerto in Argentina), has been leached from nearby volcanic rocks by erosional processes.

Most of the world’s lithium is extracted from brine deposits. Brine extraction involves pumping salty water from underground reservoirs known as brine pools or brine lakes. These reservoirs can be found in areas with high levels of underground water, such as salt flats and salars. The saltrich water is then pumped to the surface and evaporated in a series of ponds, leaving a brine with a high concentration of lithium. Hard-rock lithium deposits are generally mined in open-pit surface operations. This method requires drilling and blasting to extract lithium-bearing minerals from the rocks. Once the lithium-bearing rock is mined, it is crushed and processed into lithium compounds. This process typically involves a combination of gravity separation, flotation and magnetic separation techniques.

As the world seeks to transition from fossil fuels toward cleaner forms of energy, the lithium demand is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, which has led to a surge in exploration and mining activities in regions with lithium reserves, such as South America, Australia and Canada. In Namibia, lithium production began in the late 1960s from pegmatite occurrences in the Omaruru and Karibib areas. However, mining ceased in the early 1990s due to a decline in demand. More recently, lithium deposits have been prospected again in the central and southern regions of Namibia – specifically in the Karibib, Uis and Lofdal areas – of which some have identified intersections of highgrade lithium mineralisation within pegmatites, which are Namibia’s major sources of lithium.

As with most industries, the extraction of lithium has sparked environmental and social concerns. The mining process involves the disruption of local ecosystems and habitats, as well as the consumption of large amounts of water and energy. The use of chemicals such as sulfuric acid in the processing of lithium ore can also lead to air and water pollution if not strictly supervised and can have negative impacts on the health of workers and nearby communities.

Economic and market challenges also impact the production and use of lithium. As the demand for lithium has outrun the supply in recent years – driven mostly by the increasing popularity of electric vehicles and other battery-powered devices – fluctuations in market price and concerns about the long-term availability of the mineral have resulted. Furthermore, the development of new battery technologies or alternative energy storage solutions could potentially reduce the demand for lithium in the future.

In conclusion, while lithium ore currently plays a crucial role in enabling clean energy technologies and advanced energy storage, there is a need to balance the demand for lithium with the need to minimise the environmental, social and economic impacts of its extraction and production, as well as to continue the development of alternative energy resources as – like with all natural resources – the supply of lithium within the earth’s crust is limited and non-renewable!

Victoria N Nakafingo