Researchers say Arkansas may have 19M tons of lithium critical for battery power

Published On Oct 22, 2024, 1:57 PM

Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey have estimated that southwestern Arkansas may contain between 5 million and 19 million tons of lithium, primarily located in the Smackover Formation. This amount could satisfy more than nine times the projected global demand for lithium in electric vehicle (EV) batteries by 2030. The study suggests that if these reserves can be economically recovered, they could significantly impact U.S. lithium production and reduce dependence on imports, as currently, the U.S. imports over 25% of its lithium.