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Experts estimate the world's largest lithium reserve, discovered in Nevada's McDermitt Crater, contains up to 40 million tonnes of the metal essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage, putting the US at the centre of the global energy revolution.
The race for lithium, the metal essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage, has just gained a new player. The world’s largest lithium reserve has been discovered in the McDermitt Crater, between Nevada and Oregon, containing a staggering 40 million tons of this valuable resource. The magnitude of this reserve could redefine global markets and propel the United States as a major supplier of this essential metal.
The historic discovery of McDermitt Crater
McDermitt Crater, an ancient volcanic formation, became the center of attention on the global stage. Studies indicate that this region is home to between 20 and 40 million metric tons of lithium, a number that far exceeds other known reserves.
This gigantic volume puts the US in a privileged position in the global lithium supply chain. Until now, the world's largest reserve was in the Salar de Uyuni, in Bolivia, with around 21 million tons. If McDermitt's data is confirmed, this will be the largest lithium reserve in the world.
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A unique geological wonder
Unlike other lithium sources, such as salt pans and pegmatites, the McDermitt deposit is embedded in clays rich in illite, the result of volcanic and hydrothermal activity that occurred millions of years ago. This detail could make all the difference in exploration.
While extracting lithium from salt flats can take years of evaporation to produce results, illite allows for a potentially more efficient process and sustainable. This means that the costs and time to obtain the metal can be reduced, further accelerating its availability to the market.
Impact on global markets with the world's largest lithium reserve
McDermitt’s discovery not only expands U.S. lithium reserves, but could redefine the geopolitics of the sector. Bolivia, Chile and Argentina currently form the so-called “lithium triangle,” controlling much of the world’s production. China, in turn, dominates refining and battery manufacturing.
If this world's largest lithium reserve is exploited on a large scale, the US could become a major supplier, reducing dependence on external sources and potentially altering market prices. This change could further strengthen the American economy and attract investment to the sector.
Planet Earth continues to show us that the evolution of the human species is progressing at a rapid pace.