America's 'white gold' rush hits Arkansas with $2.3 trillion discovery

"The US may be on the verge of unlocking a $2.3 trillion hidden treasure trove of 'white gold' that could supercharge the nation's economy for years to come. A new chemical extraction process will soon allow miners to take advantage of approximately 19 million tons of lithium sitting underground in southwest Arkansas. Called Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), officials for Standard Lithium said the technology will allow them to begin harvesting this vital resource and selling it by 2028."

"A recent study estimated that there could be enough lithium inside a giant slab of limestone rock, known as the Smackover Formation, to meet the entire global demand for electric cars in 2030 nine times over. Using DLE, miners will soon be able to pull out lithium-rich saltwater from underground reservoirs in Arkansas, filter out the minerals, and return the processed groundwater to the Earth within 24 hours."

"With help from a $225 million federal grant, Standard Lithium said it is building a large processing plant in Lewisville, which will create hundreds of jobs, all aimed at turning the US into a global lithium supplier within two years. Andy Robinson, president and chief operating officer of Standard Lithium, told NewsNation: 'This beneath our feet is an unconventional lithium resource. It hasn't been developed today because it needed a new technology to unlock it.'"

Approximately 19 million tons of lithium lie dissolved in the Smackover Formation in southwest Arkansas, representing an estimated $2.3 trillion resource. Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) chemically extracts lithium from underground brines, filters the minerals, and returns processed groundwater within 24 hours. The deposit could supply enough lithium to meet global electric vehicle demand in 2030 nine times over and could replace current US lithium imports. China controls roughly 70 percent of global lithium supply. Standard Lithium plans a Lewisville processing plant funded in part by a $225 million federal grant, aiming for sales by 2028 and hundreds of new jobs.

Read at Mail Online