Artificial intelligence reveals a significant lithium deposit in the US: it could change the energy future.

A study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with the Arkansas State Geologist's Office, has revealed a surprising discovery: the Smackover Formation, a vast geologic unit underlying parts of the southern United States, hosts a significant amount of lithium in its brines. This discovery has important implications for domestic lithium production and the transition to clean energy.

The Smackover Formation, a remnant of an ancient Jurassic sea, is known for its abundant deposits of oil and bromine. However, this study has shown that it also contains a valuable resource that had previously gone unrecognized: lithium dissolved in the brines.

Using a novel methodology that combines sample analysis with machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence, USGS researchers have estimated for the first time the total amount of lithium present in the southwestern part of the Smackover Formation in Arkansas.

The results are astonishing, as the estimated amount of lithium in this region could be enough to replace U.S. imports of this mineral, which is crucial for the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries and other energy storage technologies.

This finding is especially relevant in the current context of growing global demand for lithium, driven by the transition to renewable energy and the electrification of transportation. The United States, which currently imports more than 25% of its lithium consumption, could benefit greatly from the exploitation of this domestic resource.

Extracting lithium from the brines of the Smackover Formation offers a unique opportunity to obtain this strategic mineral in a more sustainable manner , as it would utilize a byproduct of oil and gas operations that would otherwise be considered waste.

It is important to note that the study's estimates refer to the total amount of lithium present in the geological formation, not the amount that can be extracted in a technically and economically viable manner . Further research is needed to assess the feasibility of extraction and determine the best technologies for recovering lithium from brines.

The discovery of lithium in the Smackover Formation opens up new possibilities for domestic production of this critical mineral, contributing to energy security and the development of clean technologies.