Editing Lithium (section)

==== Lithium triangle and other brine sources ====
The world's top four lithium-producing countries in 2019, as reported by the US Geological Survey, were [[lithium mining in Australia|Australia]], [[Chile]], [[Economy of China|China]] and [[Economy of Argentina|Argentina]].<ref name="minerals.usgs.gov" />

The three countries of [[Chile]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Argentina]] contain a region known as the [[Lithium Triangle]]. The Lithium Triangle is known for its high-quality salt flats, which include Bolivia's [[Salar de Uyuni]], Chile's [[Salar de Atacama]], and Argentina's [[Salar de Arizaro]]. {{as of|2018}}, the Lithium Triangle was estimated to contain over 75% of existing known lithium reserves.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Lithium Triangle |url=https://latintrade.com/the-lithium-triangle/ |last=Halpern |first=Abel |work=Latin Trade |date=30 January 2014 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610055238/http://latintrade.com/the-lithium-triangle/ |archive-date=10 June 2018}}</ref> Deposits found in subsurface brines have also been found in South America throughout the [[Andes]] mountain chain. In 2010, Chile was the leading producer, followed by Argentina. Both countries recover lithium from brine pools. According to USGS, Bolivia's [[Uyuni]] Desert has 5.4 million tonnes of lithium.<ref name="romero" /><ref>{{cite web |publisher=USGS |url=http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2009/mcs2009.pdf |title=USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614002723/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2009/mcs2009.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2010}}</ref> Half the world's known reserves are located in [[Bolivia]] along the central eastern slope of the Andes.  The Bolivian government has invested US$900 million in lithium production and in 2021 successfully produced 540 tons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dube |first=Ryan |title=The Place With the Most Lithium Is Blowing the Electric-Car Revolution |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/electric-cars-batteries-lithium-triangle-latin-america-11660141017 |access-date=11 August 2022 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=11 August 2022 |language=en |issn=1042-9840 |volume=CCLXXX |number=35 |pages=A1, A8 |archive-date=10 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810225908/https://www.wsj.com/articles/electric-cars-batteries-lithium-triangle-latin-america-11660141017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="romero">{{Cite news |author=Romero, Simon |title=In Bolivia, a Tight Grip on the Next Big Resource |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/world/americas/03lithium.html?ref=world |work=The New York Times |date=2 February 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701054223/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/world/americas/03lithium.html?ref=world |archive-date=1 July 2017}}</ref> The brines in the salt pans of the Lithium Triangle vary widely in lithium content.<ref name="cabello2022" /> Concentrations can also vary over time as brines are fluids that are changeable and mobile.<ref name="cabello2022" />

In the US, lithium is recovered from brine pools in [[Nevada]].<ref name="CRC" /> Projects are also under development in [[Lithium Valley]] in California<ref name="FM 2023-12-12">{{Cite magazine |last=Bernick |first=Michael |date=December 12, 2023 |title=The Jobs Perplex Of The Lithium Valley |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelbernick/2023/12/12/the-jobs-perplex-of-the-lithium-valley/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |magazine=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=5 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205065011/https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelbernick/2023/12/12/the-jobs-perplex-of-the-lithium-valley/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and from brine in southwest [[Arkansas]] using a direct lithium extraction process, drawing on the deep brine resource in the [[Smackover Formation]].<ref name=AR20250311>{{cite web |url=https://www.standardlithium.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/186/smackover-lithium-successfully-completes-derisking-of-dle |title=Smackover Lithium Successfully Completes Derisking of DLE Technology With Final Field-Test at South West Arkansas Project |website=standardlithium.com |date=11 March 2025 |access-date=14 March 2025}}</ref>