Nev. may be on verge of a lithium rush
Canada-based Pure Energy Minerals drills to test lithium levels in the groundwater near Tonapah. Photo/Provided
By Daniel Rothberg, Las Vegas Sun
About five years ago, prospectors rushed to Nevada seeking a key component of the batteries that power the modern economy, one reliant on cellphones and laptops.
The rush made sense, at first. The state was home to the only active lithium extraction operation in North America. Unlike in other regions with known lithium deposits, like South America and Australia, Nevada’s deposits are easier to reach for executives at mining companies, most of which are headquartered in Canada. The state also has a stable regulatory process.
But when it comes to lithium, Nevada has been a double-edged sword. The quality of the lithium here is believed to be higher than in other areas, but the concentration of it is lower, making it more difficult to obtain large quantities through conventional extraction methods.