Lithium, Sources, Applications, Distribution in India and World

Lithium is a strategic chemical element critical to modern technology, energy transition, and national security. The term is derived from the Greek word “lithos” meaning stone. It is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element under standard conditions. It does not occur freely in nature due to its high reactivity. With rising demand for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, nuclear technology, and advanced electronics, it has become central to global industrial, geopolitical and environmental discussions and thus called “White Gold”.

Lithium

Lithium (symbol Li and atomic number 3) is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal known for its extremely low density, high reactivity, and strong electrochemical potential. It corrodes rapidly in air, is highly flammable and must be stored in inert conditions such as mineral oil or vacuum. Lithium occurs primarily in pegmatitic minerals like spodumene and petalite and in saline brines due to its high solubility. It is extracted mainly through electrolysis of Lithium Chloride and Potassium Chloride mixtures or through brine evaporation and emerging direct Lithium extraction technologies.

Lithium Sources

Lithium originates from pegmatitic crystallisation and brine enrichment, determining extraction technology, grade and environmental footprint. Major sources of the Lithium are given as below:

1. Spodumene: The most commercially important Lithium mineral, containing high Lithium oxide content, widely mined in Australia, China and Africa.
2. Petalite: A Lithium aluminium silicate mineral historically used for Lithium extraction, particularly in glass and ceramics industries.
3. Lepidolite: A Lithium rich mica mineral containing Lithium within sheet silicate structures, now less preferred due to processing complexity.
4. Hectorite Clay: A Lithium bearing clay mineral under development in the United States, representing non traditional Lithium resources.
5. Brine Lithium: Dissolved Lithium ions in salt flats and geothermal brines extracted through evaporation or direct Lithium extraction processes.
6. Geological Enrichment: Lithium concentrates in residual molten magma phases, making late stage pegmatites exceptionally Lithium rich.

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Lithium Applications

Lithium’s unique physical and chemical properties enable its use across energy, industry, medicine, defence and nuclear technologies. Its applications has been listed below:

• Rechargeable Batteries: Over 75% of global Lithium is consumed by Lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles, mobile devices, laptops and grid storage.
• Energy Density Advantage: Lithium ion batteries deliver about 3 volts per cell, significantly higher than lead acid or zinc carbon alternatives.
• Lightweight Alloys: Aluminium Lithium alloys reduce aircraft and train weight while improving strength, used in aerospace and high speed transport.
• Ceramics and Glass: Lithium oxide lowers melting points, improves thermal shock resistance and enhances durability of glassware and ovenware.
• Lubricating Greases: Lithium stearate based greases provide high temperature stability, accounting for the third largest Lithium application.
• Nuclear Applications: Lithium 6 produces tritium for fusion reactions, while Lithium 7 is used in nuclear reactor coolants and molten salt reactors.
• Medical Use: Lithium salts act as mood stabilisers in bipolar disorder treatment, though requiring controlled dosage due to toxicity risks.

Lithium Distribution in India

Lithium occurrence in India has historically been limited, but recent exploration has significantly altered India’s resource outlook.

The Map for the Distribution of Lithium across India has been attached below:

• Reasi District Discovery: Geological Survey of India established inferred Lithium resources of 5.9 million tonnes in Salal Haimana area of Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, in 2023.
• Exploration Status: The Reasi discovery is at preliminary G3 exploration stage, indicating geological potential but requiring detailed drilling and feasibility assessments.
• Earlier Limited Finds: Small Lithium occurrences were earlier reported in Mandya district of Karnataka, but not at commercial scale.
• Regulation: Lithium is notified as a critical and strategic mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023.
• Import Dependence Context: India imported Lithium and Lithium ion batteries worth ₹8,900 crore in FY21, rising to ₹13,800 crore in FY22, highlighting supply vulnerability.

Lithium Distribution in the World

Global Lithium resources are unevenly distributed, concentrated in select geological settings across continents. 

The Map for the Distribution of Lithium across the World has been attached below:

• Global Reserves Scale: Identified global Lithium reserves are estimated around 30 million tonnes, with total resources exceeding 116 million tonnes.
• Lithium Triangle Dominance: Argentina, Bolivia and Chile together host over 75% of known Lithium reserves, forming the Lithium Triangle.
• Largest Reserve Holder: Chile possesses the largest confirmed reserves at approximately 9.3 million tonnes, followed by Australia, Argentina and China.
• Production Leadership: Australia is the world’s largest Lithium producer, accounting for about 52% of global production, mainly from hard rock spodumene.
• Major Brine Deposits: Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia holds about 5.4 million tonnes of Lithium, one of the largest single reserve bases globally.
• Emerging Regions: Significant deposits are reported in Afghanistan, Cornwall (UK), Germany’s Altmark basin, Nevada’s McDermitt Caldera and Arkansas brines.

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Lithium Recent Developments

Recent years have transformed Lithium into a geopolitical, environmental and technological focal point worldwide.

• Demand Projections: Lithium demand is projected to reach 1.5 million tonnes LCE by 2025 and over 3 million tonnes by 2030.
• Extraction Innovation: Direct Lithium Extraction technologies are being developed to reduce land use, water consumption and processing time.
• India’s Strategic Shift: India joined the Mineral Security Partnership and strengthened overseas exploration through KABIL to secure Lithium supply chains.
• Environmental Concerns: Lithium extraction consumes about 1.9 million litres of water per tonne in arid regions, raising ecological sustainability issues.
• Critical Mineral Status: Governments globally classify Lithium as critical due to supply concentration risks and its role in clean energy transition.