More on lithium

Sources of lithium

The rigid outer layer of the Earth (lithosphere) contains approximately 65 g/t of lithium, and sea water contains around 170 mg/t. In the course of years, geological processes have concentrated lithium in the pegmatites (coarse-grained vein rocks) of the bedrock and in the hypolimnion of salt lakes, so that it can be industrially utilized. There are around 140 known lithium-bearing minerals, but only spodumene, petalite, lepidolite and amblygonite are significantly utilized. The hypolimnion of a salt lake may contain even more than 3,000 mg/l of lithium, but utilizing it is profitable only if the ratio of lithium to magnesium is low.

The industrial production of lithium can be divided into lithium minerals and lithium chemicals.
 

The production of lithium minerals 

In 2007, approximately 390,000 tonnes of lithium minerals were produced. The largest producers were; 

 In addition, lithium minerals were produced in e.g. Zimbabwe and Brazil.

The production of lithium chemicals

 In 2007, approximately 115,000 LCE-tonnes of lithium chemicals were produced. The largest producers were;