Previously, scientists announced the discovery of the largest lithium deposit in the southwestern region of Nevada. Estimates suggest that it contains a vast amount of material sufficient to power 50 million electric vehicles. On October 24, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management granted final approval to Ioneer Ltd, an Australian lithium-boron producer, for the construction of a lithium-boron mine. However, scientists are concerned, as reported by IFLScience.
Researchers are worried that the construction of a massive new mine in Nevada poses a threat to the existence of a rare wildflower. As a result, local authorities and environmentalists are facing a dilemma: lithium is crucial for transitioning away from fossil fuels, yet it simultaneously endangers an already fragile ecosystem.
It is important to note that lithium is positioned as a vital metal for the green transition, as it is a key component of lithium-ion batteries that power smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. Currently, the world is slowly but surely moving away from fossil fuels, leading to a rapid increase in global demand for the metal.
Australia, Chile, and China currently dominate the lithium market, but the United States is also trying to strengthen its position — the government is increasingly supporting research to find lithium deposits, and these efforts have already seen some success.
At the same time, lithium extraction is associated with various environmental and ethical challenges. Environmentalists argue that the construction of the mine in Nevada will lead to the extinction of the rare wildflower, Tiemma buckwheat — unfortunately, this plant only exists in the area of the proposed site and is already in a vulnerable state.
Furthermore, scientists believe that the mining operations could impact the Silver Peak Range — a vital water source for local biodiversity. It is worth mentioning that the range is also a sacred site for the Western Shoshone people. Notably, the Center for Biological Diversity had previously expressed these concerns, but the federal government decided to push forward with the plans regardless.
According to Patrick Donnelly, director of the Great Basin at the Center for Biological Diversity, the world indeed needs lithium for the energy transition and to mitigate anthropogenic climate change, but it should not come at the cost of the extinction of a species.