History of Lithium in Timeline

Lithium is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is the least dense metal and solid element. Highly reactive and flammable, lithium requires careful storage. While not naturally occurring freely, it's found in pegmatite minerals, ocean water, and brines. Lithium metal is extracted through electrolysis of lithium chloride and potassium chloride.

1923: Commercial Lithium Production Begins

The year 1923 marked the beginning of commercial lithium production, spearheaded by the German company Metallgesellschaft AG, utilizing electrolysis of lithium chloride and potassium chloride.

1932: Lithium as Alpha Particle Source and in Nuclear Reactions

In 1932, Cockroft and Walton achieved the first entirely human-made nuclear reaction using lithium. They bombarded lithium with accelerated protons, producing beryllium, which quickly underwent fission into two alpha particles. This process was dubbed "splitting the atom." In fusion reactors, lithium powders are used to manage plasma-material interactions and control energy dissipation within the hot thermo-nuclear fusion plasma boundary.

1932: First Human-Made Nuclear Reaction

In 1932, lithium atoms were successfully transmuted into helium, marking the first instance of a fully human-made nuclear reaction.

1949: Lithium Use for Mental Health Treatment Reintroduced

Australian psychiatrist John Cade brought back the use of lithium for treating mania in 1949, leading to wider adoption for mood stabilization in subsequent decades.

1963: Shutdown of Lithium Separation Facilities in the US

The US significantly scaled back its lithium separation facilities in 1963 due to a large surplus of separated lithium. This decision was linked to the use of lithium-7 in the Castle Bravo nuclear test, which resulted in significant radioactive contamination. Consequently, the US experienced a decline in its nuclear infrastructure, and by 2013, faced a potential shortage of separated lithium.

1979: Soviet Data Collection in Afghanistan

From 1979 to 1989, during their occupation of Afghanistan, the Soviets gathered data, later used to estimate potential lithium reserves in the region.

1989: End of Soviet Occupation in Afghanistan

The Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, during which data on potential lithium reserves was gathered, ended in 1989.

1998: Lithium Metal Price

In 1998, the price of lithium metal was around 95 USD/kg.

2007: Lithium Carbonate Price Drop

Following the 2007 financial crisis, major lithium suppliers like Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) significantly reduced lithium carbonate prices.

2007: Lithium-Ion Batteries Drive Lithium Demand

The rise in popularity of lithium-ion batteries by 2007 significantly increased the global demand for lithium, making it a primary application for the element.

2008: Study Questions Sustainability of Lithium Production

A 2008 study raised concerns about the sustainability of lithium production, suggesting that even ambitious production increases wouldn't meet the future demands of electric vehicles. It argued that portable electronics would absorb most of the planned production increases over the next decade. Furthermore, the study criticized the environmental impact of mass lithium carbonate production, labeling it as harmful to ecosystems and questioning the "green" image of lithium-ion batteries.

June 2010: Potential Lithium Deposits Identified in Afghanistan

In June 2010, reports emerged of American geologists conducting surveys in western Afghanistan, based on Soviet-era data, suggesting the presence of significant lithium deposits.

2011: Lithium in Aluminum Smelting

As of 2011, about 3% of global lithium production went towards its use in aluminum smelters. Lithium fluoride, when added during the Hall–Héroult process, helps lower the melting temperature and increase electrical resistance.

2011: Lithium in Continuous Casting and Foundry

In 2011, approximately 5% of global lithium consumption was attributed to its use as an additive in continuous casting mould flux slags. Lithium compounds also found application as additives in foundry sand for iron casting to minimize veining.

2012: Lithium Market Oligopoly and Price Increase

By 2012, the lithium market saw a price increase. A Business Week article highlighted an oligopoly in the industry, with major players like SQM, Rockwood, FMC, and Talison controlling a significant market share.

2012: Geothermal Wells as Lithium Source

In 2012, leachates from geothermal wells were identified as a potential lithium source. This method involved bringing the lithium-rich leachates to the surface and extracting lithium through filtration.

2012: Talison Mine: High-Grade Lithium Ore

In 2012, the Talison mine at Greenbushes, Australia, was recognized for having the highest grade of lithium ore globally, at 2.4% Li2O.

2013: Substantial Lithium Deposits Located in Wyoming

A significant discovery in Wyoming's Rock Springs Uplift in 2013 revealed an estimated 228,000 tonnes of lithium, with potential for up to 18 million tonnes in the surrounding formation.

2013: US Dependence on Lithium-7 and Potential Shortage

In 2013, the US Government Accountability Office revealed that a shortage of lithium-7 posed a risk to the operation of numerous American nuclear reactors. Lithium-7 is crucial for the functioning of these reactors.

2015: Czech Republic Identified as Potential Lithium Province

By 2015, the Czech Geological Survey had designated the entire Ore Mountains region in the Czech Republic as a potential lithium province, with estimated reserves of 160,000 tonnes near Cínovec.

July 2018: Lithium and Uranium Resources Discovered in Peru

July 2018 marked the discovery of a significant deposit in the Falchani region of Puno, Peru, containing 2.5 million tonnes of high-grade lithium resources and 124 million pounds of uranium resources.

2018: Major Lithium Spodumene Deposit Found in DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo emerged as a significant potential lithium supplier in 2018 with the discovery of a vast lithium spodumene hard-rock deposit in Manono, estimated to contain up to 1.5 billion tonnes.

December 2019: Finnish Company Reports Significant Lithium Deposit

In December 2019, Finnish mining company Keliber Oy announced that their Rapasaari lithium deposit potentially holds 5.28 million tonnes of lithium ore reserves.

2019: Spodumene Lithium Production

Approximately 80,000 tonnes of lithium were produced from spodumene in 2019, with major sources including the Greenbushes pegmatite in Australia and sites in China and Chile.

2019: Top Lithium-Producing Countries

The US Geological Survey identified Australia, Chile, China, and Argentina as the top four lithium-producing countries in 2019.

May 2020: Classical Nova Explosions as Lithium-7 Producers

In May 2020, astronomers reported that classical nova explosions within our galaxy are responsible for producing lithium-7.

2020: Projected Surge in Lithium Consumption

Global lithium consumption was projected to reach 300,000 metric tons annually by 2020, driven by the growing demand for lithium batteries. This demand outpaced the overall lithium production growth, which was around 4% to 5% per year.

2020: Chile Estimated to Have Largest Lithium Reserves

In 2020, estimations indicated that Chile possessed the world's largest lithium reserves, with approximately 9.2 million tonnes.

2020: Major Project Status Granted to Australian Lithium Project

In 2020, the Finniss Lithium Project in Australia, estimated to hold 3.45 million tonnes of lithium oxide, was designated as a Major Project, highlighting its strategic importance.

2020: USGS Estimates Global Lithium Reserves

The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimated global identified lithium reserves to be 17 million tonnes in 2020.

January 2021: Protests Against Thacker Pass Lithium Mine

Beginning in January 2021, the development of the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada, USA, faced protests and lawsuits. Indigenous tribes voiced concerns about the lack of consent, threats to cultural and sacred sites, and the potential risks to indigenous women associated with resource extraction projects.

2021: Primary Use of Lithium

As of 2021, the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and mobile devices consumed the majority of lithium.

2021: Bolivian Lithium Production and Investment

By 2021, Bolivia had invested US$900 million in its lithium production infrastructure and successfully produced 540 tonnes of lithium.

2021: Sources of Lithium Extraction

By early 2021, a significant portion of global lithium extraction came from either spodumene found in hard rocks (like in Australia and North Carolina) or from salty brine pumped directly from the ground (as in Chile).

2021: USGS Updates Global Lithium Reserve Estimate

In 2021, the US Geological Survey (USGS) revised its estimate for global identified lithium reserves to 21 million tonnes.

August 2022: Lithium Prices (March-August 2022)

Between March and August 2022, the ISE - Institute of Rare Earths Elements and Strategic Metals reported stable prices for various lithium substances. Lithium carbonate (99.5% purity) ranged from 63 to 72 EUR/kg, lithium hydroxide monohydrate (56.5% min) was priced between 66 to 72 EUR/kg in China and 73 EUR/kg in South Korea, and lithium metal (99.9% min) was 42 EUR/kg in China.

2022: Finniss Lithium Project Begins Operations

Operational mining activities at the Finniss Lithium Project in Australia commenced in 2022.

2023: Polar Lithium Granted Rights to Develop Kolmozerskoye Deposit

Polar Lithium, a joint venture between Nornickel and Rosatom, secured the rights to develop Russia's largest lithium deposit, Kolmozerskoye, in 2023.

2030: Targeted Full Capacity for Kolmozerskoye Project

The Kolmozerskoye lithium project, aiming to produce 45,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate and hydroxide annually, is projected to achieve full design capacity by 2030.