What could be the largest lithium deposit in the world may pit one camp of environmentalists against others environmentalists as the element used to make batteries for electric cars is being mined just outside the Oregon border in Nevada.

The Thacker Pass Project is located within an extinct 25 by 19 mile supervolcano named McDermitt Caldera that sits on the Oregon-Nevada border -- though the mine pit will be only in Nevada. The caldera was formed approximately 16.3 million years ago as part of a hotspot currently underneath the Yellowstone Plateau.

Following an initial eruption and concurrent collapse of the McDermitt Caldera, a large lake formed in the caldera basin. This lake water was extremely enriched in lithium and resulted in the accumulation of lithium-rich clays. Late volcanic activity uplifted the caldera, draining the lake and bringing the lithium-rich moat sediments to the surface resulting in the near-surface lithium deposit called Thacker Pass.

According to the mine owner Lithium Americas, the open pit mine will cost $2.2 billion to develop and will produce 80,000 tons of lithium per year over its 40-year life.

“The Montana Mountains landscape has long been identified as a key area for biodiversity protection in Nevada,” said Katie Fite, Public Lands Director for Wildlands Defense. “Along with adjacent Oregon wild lands, it constitutes one of the last big blocks of the sagebrush sea free of development. Pygmy rabbits, migratory birds and other wildlife suffered a major blow from wildfire a decade ago and habitat has not yet recovered. Now this mega-mine will obliterate vital remaining sagebrush. The mine’s regional disturbance footprint will wallop struggling wildlife populations, causing new declines.”

The Nevada Department of Environmental Protection sees it differently. According to its website, "Approval for these permits comes after an extensive application review and revision process, as well as months of public engagement with the Orovada community and the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes. All three permits, which are required for Lithium Nevada to start construction and operate the mine, come after NDEP determined the project can operate in a way that protects public health and the environment.

The Trump administration provided federal approval near the end of his term and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to vacate that approval, meaning that the mining activity can proceed.

The world is currently not producing enough of it to keep up with demand produced by the sale of electric vehicles. This could be a major bottleneck this decade.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-10-02 11:14:14

Last Update: 2023-10-02 12:16:45