https://tinyurl.com/2p8stw6p
New evidence suggests McDermitt Caldera may be among the largest known
lithium reserves in the world
新的證據指出美國McDermitt Caldera 擁有全世界最大的鋰礦產
trio of volcanologists and geologists from Lithium Americas Corporation, GNS
Science, and Oregon State University reports evidence that the McDermitt
Caldera, on the Nevada/Oregon, border, may host some of the largest known
deposits of lithium on Earth. In their project, reported in the journal
Science Advances, Thomas Benson, Matthew Coble and John Dilles studied parts
of the caldera and developed a theory to explain how so many lithium deposits
were formed in the area.
證據指出，在內華達/奧勒岡邊界的地方，可能擁有全世界最大的鋰礦儲量。
Over the past few decades, lithium has become a highly valued soft metal, due
primarily to its use in a wide variety of battery types. Because its value
has continued to increase, scientists working for mining companies such as
Lithium Americas Corporation have been looking for sources.
The McDermitt Caldera is approximately 45 kilometers long and 35 kilometers
wide. Prior research has suggested it formed as part of the Yellowstone
hotspot, which led to the formation of a sequence of calderas. Its origin
dates to approximately 19 million years ago.
麥德密特火山口大概45公里長35公里寬。之前的研究推測它是由黃石火山的熱點所
形成的。它大概是1900萬年前形成。
In 2017, another team of researchers found evidence that one part of the
caldera called Thacker Pass could be among the largest sources of lithium
ever found. Lithium Americas obtained a stake at the site and began testing
mining operations. Soon thereafter, they ran into opposition from locals and
Native American groups, but eventually won the right to mine at the site.
Since that time, the research team has been collecting and analyzing samples,
looking for the best place to begin major mining operations. But to find it,
they and many other experts in the field believe they must find an
explanation for how the lithium got there in the first place. In their paper,
the researchers suggest a theory—one Lithium Americas plans to use to begin
its mining operations.
Their theory posits that after a volcano erupted, a hydrothermal enrichment
occurred—magma deep unground pushed its way to the center of what is now the
caldera, leading to the formation of the Montana Mountains. As that happened,
faults, fissures and fractures were created, allowing lithium to seep up
toward the surface. This process also transformed much of the smectite into
illite (different forms of clay minerals), which wound up along the southern
rim of the basin. That, they conclude, explains why lithium is so abundant
there.
在火山噴發的時候，大量的鋰被帶到表現，這是為什麼當地鋰這麼豐富的原因
心得：
美國的EV產業可以完全自給自足了