The scientific community is focusing on a county in California because of its massive lithium reserves. Imperial County has enough rare earth elements to produce 375 million batteries. The study is significant because lithium is in high demand as a result of the popularity of electric vehicles. It is one of the least populous counties in the United States, located on the southeast border of the state of California. It is located on the border of the United States and Mexico.
SFGate reports that 3,400 kilotonnes of lithium were discovered in the Salton Sea region. The mineral is found primarily (around 80%) in Australia, China, and Chile, and US officials predict that demand for lithium will increase by 4,000% in the coming decades.
According to the county’s official website, the extraction of lithium could take up to 100 years. According to the California State Government, the Salton Sea region has “the highest concentration of lithium contained in geothermal brines in the world.”
According to the US Geological Survey, only 1% of global lithium is mined and processed in the United States. The most recent discovery is expected to boost the country’s tourism industry.
After mining begins, the United States is expected to overtake China as the world’s leading chemical producer. It is expected to eliminate reliance on Chinese imports and make the US completely self-sufficient in the mineral.
According to a March press release from the county, lithium extraction will be taxed, with the county receiving 80% of the new revenue.