A recent study conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment has found that the Smackover Formation in southwest Arkansas contains between 5 and 19 million metric tons of lithium. This amount could meet projected global demand for lithium in electric vehicle (EV) batteries nine times over by 2030.
The research utilized water sampling and machine learning techniques to estimate lithium concentrations in the Smackover Formation, a porous limestone seabed stretching beneath parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. The findings significantly increase previous estimates of U.S. lithium reserves, which were thought to be around 14 million metric tons prior to this study.
“Lithium is a critical mineral for the energy transition, and the potential for increased U.S. production has implications for employment, manufacturing, and supply-chain resilience,” said USGS Director David Applegate. “This study illustrates the value of science in addressing economically important issues.”
Despite the promising estimates, USGS hydrologist Katherine Knierim cautioned that these figures represent in-place assessments. “We have not estimated what is technically recoverable based on newer methods to extract lithium from brines,” she explained.
The International Energy Agency projects that the global lithium market will increase sixfold between 2020 and 2030. Currently, the United States produces just 1% of the global lithium supply, with most production occurring in Australia and South America. Additionally, over 25% of the lithium used by U.S. manufacturers is imported, often processed through supply chains dominated by China.
The commercial viability of these reserves depends on the advancement of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, which offers a faster and potentially more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods. However, DLE faces challenges related to cost, scalability, and environmental impact.
Several energy companies are already investing in the Smackover Formation’s potential. In early 2023, ExxonMobil acquired rights to 120,000 acres in the area for $100 million. Norwegian state-owned Equinor has invested $160 million for a 45% stake in two lithium brine projects in Arkansas and East Texas, aiming to develop cost-effective DLE processes.
Source: The Santa Clarita Valley Signal
