Domestic Exploration of Lithium

Content:

Preliminary surveys by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) have shown the presence of 1,600 tonnes of lithium resources in the igneous rocks of the Marlagalla-Allapatna region of Karnataka’s Mandya district.  

About Lithium

• Lithium is a widely used chemical element.
• Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element.
• It is highly reactive and flammable, and must be stored in mineral oil.
• It appears as soft, silvery-white metal,and is an alkali metal and a rare metal.
• The alkali metals consist of the chemical elements lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, and francium. Together with hydrogen they constitute group 1, which lies in the s-block of the periodic table.
• These metals are strategic in nature with wide application in the nuclear and other high tech industries such as electronics, telecommunication, information technology, space, defense etc.
• It was first discovered in 1817 by Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson in the mineral petalite. 
• Lithium is also found in brine deposits and as salts in mineral springs and pegmatite ores

Geographical Areas for mining in India and Abroad

• Lithium production has greatly increased since the end of World War II. The main sources of lithium are brines and ores.
• The world’s top four lithium-producing countries from 2019, as reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS) are Australia, Chile, China and Argentina.
• The intersection of Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina make up the region known as the Lithium Triangle.
• The Lithium Triangle is known for its high quality salt flats including Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, Chile’s Salar de Atacama, and Argentina’s Salar de Arizaro. 
• The Lithium Triangle is believed to contain over 75% of existing known lithium reserves.
• India currently meets all its lithium demand and needs by means of imports.

Strategic Importance of Lithium:

• Lithium and its compounds have several industrial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics, lithium grease lubricants, flux additives for iron, steel and aluminium production, lithium batteries, and lithium-ion batteries.
• The principal industrial applications for lithium metal are in metallurgy, where the active element is used as a scavenger (remover of impurities) in the refining of such metals as iron, nickel, copper, and zinc and their alloys.
• It is also extensively used in the production of other organic chemicals, especially pharmaceuticals. 
• Lithium metal is used to make useful alloys such as lead alloy to make ‘white metal’ bearings for motor engines, with aluminium to make aircraft parts, and with magnesium to make armour plates.
• It is also used in thermonuclear reactions. Lithium (Li-7) as a hydroxide is important in controlling the chemistry of pressurised water reactor (PWR) cooling systems. It is a key component of fluoride coolant in molten salt reactors.
• Because of its light weight and large negative electrochemical potential, lithium metal serves as the anode (negative electrode) in many non rechargeable lithium primary batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs), laptops and mobile phones. 
• The push for greener technologies to mitigate climate change have enhanced the strategic importance of  Lithium. High-power rechargeable lithium storage batteries are an integral component of greener electric vehicles and power storage 
• 2021 is likely to be an inflection point for battery technology – with several potential improvements to the li-ion technology, and alternatives to this tried-and-tested formulation in advanced stages of commercialisation.
• Over 165 crore lithium batteries are estimated to have been imported into India between 2016-17 and 2019-20, at an estimated import bill of upwards of $3.3 billion.
• Moreover, China is a major source of lithium-ion energy storage products being imported into India. Therefore securing Lithium supply is essential for the success of India’s economic offensive against China.

Government initiatives

• India is seen as a late mover in attempts to enter the lithium value chain
• Alongside a move to tap into the global lithium value chain, India has initiated a concerted domestic exploration push.
• Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), an arm of the Department of Atomic Energy, is carrying out surface and subsurface exploration for lithium in potential geological domains of India. 
• Exploratory work to extract lithium from the brine pools of Rajasthan and Gujarat and the mica belts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh is underway.
• The new company, Khanij Bidesh India Ltd, was incorporated in August 2019 by three state-owned companies, NALCO, Hindustan Copper, and Mineral Exploration Ltd.
• It’s specific mandate is to acquire strategic mineral assets such as lithium and cobalt abroad. The company is learnt to be also exploring options in Chile and Bolivia.
• In 2020, India’s newly-floated state-owned company Khanij Bidesh India Ltd had signed an agreement with an Argentinian firm to jointly prospect lithium in the South American country. It has the third largest reserves of the metal in the world.