Buried in the depths of southern Arkansas the remnants of an ancient sea may hold the key to future lithium supplies, according to a groundbreaking study published in Science Advances. Researchers have discovered that the Smackover Formation, a brine-filled limestone aquifer, could potentially contain between 5.1 to 19 million tons of lithium. This vast resource may be enough to meet nine times the anticipated global demand for lithium in car batteries by 2030, a critical component as the world shifts toward electric and hybrid vehicles.
Using machine learning and geological data, a team from the US Department of Energy and state researchers mapped lithium concentrations in the Smackover Formation. These brines already support Arkansas’ bromine industry, which extracts brine, recycles it, and reinjects it underground—a method that may allow lithium extraction with comparatively lower environmental impact than traditional mining techniques. This approach contrasts with strip mines and evaporation ponds, both of which have raised concerns about severe land degradation and excessive water consumption.
In 2022 alone, brines from Arkansas’ bromine industry contained around 5,000 tons of dissolved lithium, demonstrating that lithium extraction could enhance the US supply chain while reducing dependence on imports. However, this new opportunity isn’t free from environmental concerns. Experts emphasize the importance of balancing the transition to clean energy with the need to protect local ecosystems. Conservationists, like Patrick Donnelly from the Center for Biological Diversity, stress that responsible lithium production must prioritize environmental stewardship.
With global lithium demand soaring electric vehicle batteries alone represented 85% of lithium use in 2023 this discovery represents a promising yet challenging frontier. According to the US Geological Survey’s David Applegate, this research underscores the role of science in responsibly harnessing economically essential resources for the energy transition.
Read Now:Scientists on the Brink of ‘Reviving’ Dinosaurs with Robotics Future of Evolution Research
