- Pro
Open-pit extraction is possible due to lithium’s proximity to the surface
Comments (0) ()When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Phawat)
- Nevada-Oregon caldera hosts lithium clay estimated at 20-40 million tons
- Lithium discovery could reach $1.5 trillion at current market prices
- Quadruple-layered sediment and hydrothermal activity enriched clay with lithium elements
A research team has identified a large concentration of lithium-rich clay within the McDermitt Caldera, a collapsed supervolcano along the Nevada–Oregon border.
Current assessments suggest the region could hold between 20 - 40 million metric tons of lithium-bearing material.
If commercial activity confirms these estimates, the value could reach roughly $1.5 trillion at prevailing market prices.
You may like-
AMD and the US government sign $1 billion deal for two massive supercomputers - is the global AI war finally heating up?
-
Thinking of buying a new PC? You might want to move soon, as a perfect storm looks to be brewing for component price hikes
-
Toyota says it will launch the world’s first solid-state EVs in 2027, but is that realistic? Here’s what experts say
Lithium - a major raw material for industries
The projected scale would make this one of the largest documented lithium deposits, and if commercial extraction proves viable, it could supply battery production for many years.
The material would serve sectors that depend on large-scale storage, including electric vehicles and consumer electronics.
It would also support computing systems used across industry, from workstations to smaller units such as mini PCs.
Geological analysis indicates that the caldera formed around 16 million years ago after a major eruption caused the underlying magma chamber to collapse.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Thick layers of ash cooled across the basin, and a long-lasting lake deposited further sediments over extended periods.
Hydrothermal activity continued as mineral-laden water moved upward into the soft mud layers, enriching them with lithium and other elements.
This process created clay bands with unusually high concentrations of lithium, some of which lie close enough to the surface to allow open-pit extraction.
You may like-
AMD and the US government sign $1 billion deal for two massive supercomputers - is the global AI war finally heating up?
-
Thinking of buying a new PC? You might want to move soon, as a perfect storm looks to be brewing for component price hikes
-
Toyota says it will launch the world’s first solid-state EVs in 2027, but is that realistic? Here’s what experts say
The United States has relied heavily on the Silver Peak Mine in Nevada since the 1960s for domestic lithium supply.
Although discoveries like the Southern Arkansas deposit emerged last year, Silver Peak remains relevant.
The global demand outlook for lithium remains steep, with some analysts projecting an eightfold increase in required output by 2040.
A site of this scale could reduce long-standing dependence on a single mine and shift supply dynamics.
It will also help ease price swings, which have increased by over 1,500% in recent years and strained industries that rely on steady supplies of lithium and rare earth elements.
These materials are controlled in many nations, with China providing rare earth development assistance to Malaysia after restricting access to U.S. entities.
As battery research expands beyond lithium-based chemistries, such major discoveries become uncertain.
Sodium-ion cells are frequently cited as possible alternatives to lithium, but current versions lag in energy density and durability.
Because of this gap, lithium remains the dominant option for now. However, it is unknown whether long-term demand will maintain its current trajectory.
Via Tom's Hardware
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
Efosa UdinmwenFreelance JournalistEfosa has been writing about technology for over 7 years, initially driven by curiosity but now fueled by a strong passion for the field. He holds both a Master's and a PhD in sciences, which provided him with a solid foundation in analytical thinking.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
AMD and the US government sign $1 billion deal for two massive supercomputers - is the global AI war finally heating up?
Thinking of buying a new PC? You might want to move soon, as a perfect storm looks to be brewing for component price hikes
Toyota says it will launch the world’s first solid-state EVs in 2027, but is that realistic? Here’s what experts say
US tech firm digs its claws into UK countryside with £4bn data center plans
World's biggest hydro site can produce as much electricity as 88 nuclear reactors - and now wants to attract more AI data centres
US hyperscalers set to spend nearly $1.2 trillion in just three years, research shows - but I dread to imagine what will happen once the global data market cools down
Latest in Pro
AWS Graviton5 is its most powerful and efficient CPU to date - and could mean big changes for your key cloud workloads
Start 2026 strong - you can save up to 50% on Wix’s top apps right now
Over 70 US banks and credit unions affected by Marquis ransomware breach - here's what we know
Customer data stolen in Freedom Mobile account management platform hack
CEOs are warning AI adoption and spending should be more strategic
Apple Final Cut Pro (2025) review
Latest in News
Roblox, FaceTime become the last targets of Russia's censorship
Marvel Rivals now has a gacha mini-game featuring a limited-time Psylocke bundle – here's how it works
YouTube to lock out under-16s in Australia as controversial social media ban looms
Forget Spotify Wrapped, get back into CDs with FiiO’s gorgeous new portable player
Sony announces partnership with Bad Robot Games to produce and publish a new four-player, co-op shooter from Left 4 Dead director
Can you guess which pro Canon camera took the best landscape photo of 2025?
LATEST ARTICLES- 1Newly-discovered $1.5 billion lithium deposit could revolutionize the tech industry - but bad news, it's inside a supervolcano
- 2Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 gets a new story trailer teasing the playable Dark Angels faction ahead of its 2026 launch
- 3Over 70 US banks and credit unions affected by Marquis ransomware breach - here's what we know
- 4Looking to supercharge your Raspberry Pi? This adapter provides two full-sized HDMI ports and a PCIe connector - and it only costs $10
- 5Bending Spoons continues its spree of buying famous tech brands with the Eventbrite deal
