China has long dominated the global lithium market, producing around three-quarters of the batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide. With electric car sales soaring—especially in Europe, where nearly 19% of all new vehicles sold in France in September 2023 were electric—there’s no denying the increasing demand for lithium. But here’s the twist: while China has successfully cornered the market, it doesn’t have the lion’s share of lithium resources on its own soil. In fact, the world’s largest deposit might be hidden in plain sight, and it’s not in China at all, but rather in a lake in the United States, holding an estimated $500 billion worth of lithium.
China: The Relentless Search for Lithium
As the world’s largest producer and consumer of electric car batteries, China finds itself constantly seeking new sources of lithium. This highly sought-after metal is a critical component in the production of EV batteries, and with the EV market booming, the demand for lithium is skyrocketing. Just think about it: every electric car on the road today requires a significant amount of lithium to power its battery, and as the global shift to EVs continues, the need for this resource will only grow.
Despite its dominance in battery production, China doesn’t have all the lithium it needs within its own borders. While the country does have substantial deposits of lithium in regions like Tibet and the Sichuan and Qinghai provinces—estimated at about 3.6 million tons—it still needs to import the bulk of the metal from other countries. China turns to places like Australia and Chile to fill the gap, ensuring its battery production lines continue humming.
But now, new discoveries are shaking up the global lithium market. A groundbreaking analysis has revealed that the U.S. might have the largest lithium reserve in the world, sitting quietly in Southern California’s Salton Sea.
The Largest Lithium Deposit in the World Found in the U.S.
The Salton Sea, a massive lake located in Southern California, is now home to what could be the largest lithium deposit ever discovered. Federal analysts have confirmed that this area contains enough lithium to meet the country’s needs for decades, if not longer. Already, 4 million tons of lithium have been confirmed in the lake’s depths, and experts estimate there could be up to 14 million more tons waiting to be extracted.
To put this in perspective, the potential amount of lithium in the Salton Sea is enough to power an astonishing 375 million electric vehicle batteries. That’s a game-changing discovery, especially considering how much of the world’s lithium supply has been controlled by a handful of countries. This discovery at Salton Sea could potentially shift the balance of power in the global lithium market, making the U.S. a formidable player in the race to secure the resource critical for the electric revolution.
The Challenges of Extracting Lithium from Salton Sea
While the news of such a massive lithium deposit is certainly exciting, it comes with its own set of challenges. For starters, extracting lithium from the Salton Sea isn’t as simple as digging up a few tons of ore. The process requires drilling deep geothermal wells to access the brine beneath the lake’s surface, where the lithium is located.
The challenge isn’t just technical—it’s environmental. Extracting the lithium would require enormous amounts of water, and given the drought conditions already affecting California, this could create significant concerns. Furthermore, the extraction process could degrade the local air quality, impacting the 180,000 people who live near the lake and the surrounding agricultural areas.
While the region has been dubbed “Lithium Valley,” local residents and environmentalists are cautious. The extraction process being proposed is considered by some to be the “greenest” method available, as it leverages geothermal energy to pump the brine to the surface. But this doesn’t eliminate the environmental risks—especially given the potential impact on water resources and air quality.
For those living near the Salton Sea, the excitement over a potential economic boom from lithium mining is tempered by the fear of long-term ecological damage. And as with any large-scale industrial operation, there are no guarantees that the economic benefits will outweigh the environmental costs.
The Future of Lithium in the U.S.
The Salton Sea discovery could mark a turning point in the global lithium race, but how quickly the U.S. can tap into this resource remains uncertain. The technology to extract lithium efficiently and sustainably is still evolving, and the environmental implications must be carefully considered. Nevertheless, the potential rewards are clear: if the extraction is done responsibly, the U.S. could become a major player in the lithium market, easing some of the pressure on global supply chains and ensuring that the country has access to the resources needed to fuel its growing EV market.
In the meantime, the world will be watching closely as the U.S. explores how to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility. The future of lithium extraction in the Salton Sea is far from certain, but one thing is clear: the U.S. has stumbled upon a hidden treasure that could have far-reaching implications for the global energy transition.
