LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A new study conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE) discovered a method to "quantify the amount of lithium present in brines located in a geological unit known as the Smackover Formation."
The study, which was done by the USGS and the ADEE's Office of the State Geologist, noted that extraction was especially valuable when lithium is extracted from brines that's been co-produced during oil and gas operation.
“Lithium is a critical mineral for the energy transition, and the potential for increased U.S. production to replace imports has implications for employment, manufacturing and supply-chain resilience," said David Applegate, USGS Director. "This study illustrates the value of science in addressing economically important issues."
According to the researchers, the Smackover Formation is described as a "relic of an ancient sea that left an extensive, porous, and permeable limestone geologic unit." Researchers said that this geological unit dates back to the Jurassic geological time period and currently stretches under parts of Arkansas, along with Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.
“Our research was able to estimate total lithium present in the southwestern portion of the Smackover in Arkansas for the first time. We estimate there is enough dissolved lithium present in that region to replace U.S. imports of lithium and more," said Katherine Knierim, a hydrologist and the study’s principal researcher. "It is important to caution that these estimates are an in-place assessment. We have not estimated what is technically recoverable based on newer methods to extract lithium from brines."
There's been more attention to research like this as the global demand for lithium has grown significantly over recent years. Experts expect for the high demand to continue due to how crucial lithium is to battery production, along with a projected trend towards the usage of more electric and hybrid vehicles.
In terms of the U.S., the country relies on imports to sustain over 25% of its lithium. That's where the extraction of lithium in Arkansas comes into play, as USGS researchers believe that there's enough lithium in southern Arkansas to cover current estimated lithium consumption for U.S.
USGS said that the low-end estimate is 5 million tons of lithium present in Smackover brines. This would be equivalent to over nine times the International Energy Agency’s projection of global lithium demand for electric vehicles in 2030, according to researchers.