LiFT - Lithium for Future Technology
Lead Research Organisation:
Natural History Museum
Department Name: Earth Sciences
Abstract
Along with many other countries worldwide, the UK is committed to achieving a low carbon economy. There is a plan to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, with a key component of this plan being a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, and a switch to electric vehicles. These vehicles will require storage batteries that contain many components made of metals that have limited supplies. For example, a recent open letter authored by Professor Richard Herrington (principal investigator for the NHM on this proposal) explained that if the UK is to meet its electric car targets, it will require three quarters of the world's current total annual production of lithium - an essential component of modern electric vehicle batteries. Whilst current rates of lithium production are sufficient to meet global demand, we need to investigate additional lithium resources if we are to meet greenhouse gas emission targets. This proposal seeks to better understand the Earth system processes that concentrate lithium into mineral deposits, from which lithium can be mined in both an economically feasible and an environmentally responsible manner. Our central hypothesis is that major lithium deposits are largely formed in parts of the world where continental collision occurs as a consequence of plate tectonics.
We will further test the hypothesis that within these collisional environments there is a "life-cycle" of tectonic processes that is reflected in the formation of different types of lithium deposits. Broadly speaking, in the first stage lithium is moderately concentrated in igneous rocks that are formed in this setting. Lithium is a relatively soluble element, which is readily leached and weathered from these rocks (particularly by hot geothermal water) and the lithium-rich waters may accumulate in basins that are also formed during continental collision. If the climate is arid, the waters evaporate to form a lithium-rich brine that can be an economically viable lithium deposit in its own right. In these brine basins, complex chemical processes and extreme microbial life may play a role in cycling elements and concentrating the lithium into sediments. Over time, the geothermal and volcanic activity ceases and the lithium-rich sediments may be buried and thus preserved for millions of years. Subsequently, these buried rocks may also serve as a source of lithium that can be extracted. With further burial and then heating, these lithium-rich sediments can reach temperatures at which they undergo melting and the formation of lithium-enriched pegmatites and granites. Again, these rocks may contain sufficient concentrations and amounts of lithium to represent a source of lithium that can be extracted for ultimate incorporation in electric vehicle batteries.
At each stage of the life-cycle there are uncertainties regarding the source of lithium, and how it is transported and trapped. The different types of lithium deposits also vary in how easy it is to extract the lithium, and we need to consider how to do this in an environmentally responsible way. We will tackle these problems by bringing together a group of scientists who have considerable expertise in all aspects of this lithium journey. We will use a wide range of techniques, from simple geological observations through to highly sophisticated isotopic analyses and microbiological techniques, to track the behaviour of lithium. We will work alongside industry partners to identify the types of deposits that can be profitably extracted while simultaneously minimising any damage to the environment, and we will investigate the potential for more sustainable methods of lithium extraction using microbial processes. We anticipate that our research will provide industry with new targets for exploration for lithium resources. This will not only help secure a low carbon economy for the UK, but also provide important economic benefits to the UK and other nations.
We will further test the hypothesis that within these collisional environments there is a "life-cycle" of tectonic processes that is reflected in the formation of different types of lithium deposits. Broadly speaking, in the first stage lithium is moderately concentrated in igneous rocks that are formed in this setting. Lithium is a relatively soluble element, which is readily leached and weathered from these rocks (particularly by hot geothermal water) and the lithium-rich waters may accumulate in basins that are also formed during continental collision. If the climate is arid, the waters evaporate to form a lithium-rich brine that can be an economically viable lithium deposit in its own right. In these brine basins, complex chemical processes and extreme microbial life may play a role in cycling elements and concentrating the lithium into sediments. Over time, the geothermal and volcanic activity ceases and the lithium-rich sediments may be buried and thus preserved for millions of years. Subsequently, these buried rocks may also serve as a source of lithium that can be extracted. With further burial and then heating, these lithium-rich sediments can reach temperatures at which they undergo melting and the formation of lithium-enriched pegmatites and granites. Again, these rocks may contain sufficient concentrations and amounts of lithium to represent a source of lithium that can be extracted for ultimate incorporation in electric vehicle batteries.
At each stage of the life-cycle there are uncertainties regarding the source of lithium, and how it is transported and trapped. The different types of lithium deposits also vary in how easy it is to extract the lithium, and we need to consider how to do this in an environmentally responsible way. We will tackle these problems by bringing together a group of scientists who have considerable expertise in all aspects of this lithium journey. We will use a wide range of techniques, from simple geological observations through to highly sophisticated isotopic analyses and microbiological techniques, to track the behaviour of lithium. We will work alongside industry partners to identify the types of deposits that can be profitably extracted while simultaneously minimising any damage to the environment, and we will investigate the potential for more sustainable methods of lithium extraction using microbial processes. We anticipate that our research will provide industry with new targets for exploration for lithium resources. This will not only help secure a low carbon economy for the UK, but also provide important economic benefits to the UK and other nations.
Organisations
Publications
Gloaguen R
(2022)
Mineral revolution for the Wellbeing Economy
in Global Sustainability
Herrington R
(2021)
Mining our green future
in Nature Reviews Materials
Herrington R
(2024)
The Raw Material Challenge of Creating a Green Economy
in Minerals
Herrington R
(2024)
Delivering Critical Raw Materials: Ecological, Ethical and Societal Issues
Putzolu F
(2024)
Influence of magmatic and magmatic-hydrothermal processes on the lithium endowment of micas in the Cornubian Batholith (SW England)
in Mineralium Deposita
Description | Progress has been made into the understanding of how the emerging new class of ore deposit, volcano-sedimentary hosted (VSS) lithium deposits form. Work has focused on the Jindalee (McDermitt Caldera) and Jadar (Serbia) deposits, both world-class repositories of this major metal |
Exploitation Route | The outcomes are of significant importance to mineral exploration and mining companies as they offer clues to where the next generation of deposits might be found and how they may then be processed. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Chemicals Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics Energy Environment Government Democracy and Justice Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Transport |
Description | The outcomes have resulted in the NHM being contacted about supplying contract services to mining industry clients on exploration models for lithium deposits |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Other |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | National Environmental Isotope Facility (NEIF) |
Amount | £41,409 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2578.1022 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
Description | An introduction to metals for the green economy. British-Kazakh Society: Metals for the Green Economy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Online webcast |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yALQolnbUs |
Description | Final Consortium Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Final meeting of the LiFT project consortium at the Natural History Museum in London, February 22nd-23rd 2024 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Ian Bowbrick I., Wrathall, J. and Seltmann, R. - IOM3 Investigates . Lithium in the UK. Podcast of IoM3 with Jeremy Wrathall, Cornish Lithium, 23 April 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Reporting on an Innovate UK project, Lithium for the UK |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.iom3.org/resource/iom3-investigates-lithium-in-the-uk.html |
Description | Interview for national TV - BBC Ten O'clock news July 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview for BBC news broadcast live on BBC ten o'clock news and as a website article by BBC science correspondent |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57534978 |
Description | Royal Society Summer Exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | This was one of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society's 2021 Summer Science digital showcase |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2021/07/mining-for-sustainable-future/ |
Description | The global Lithium boom - what's all about? From Lithium cycles to Gigafactories |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Prof Reimar Seltmann presented a seminar at the Summer Semester 2022 Geocolloquium - Kiel: May 3, 2022, Institut für Geowissenschaften, Christian Albrecht Universität zu Kiel |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |