Editing Lithium (section)

=== Human rights issues ===
A study of relationships between lithium extraction companies and indigenous peoples in Argentina indicated that the state may not have protected indigenous peoples' right to [[Free, prior and informed consent|free prior and informed consent]], and that extraction companies generally controlled community access to information and set the terms for discussion of the projects and benefit sharing.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Marchegiani |last2=Morgera |last3=Parks |date=November 21, 2019 |title=Indigenous peoples'rights to natural resources in Argentina: the challenges of impact assessment, consent and fair andequitable benefit-sharing in cases of lithium mining |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337431438 |journal=The International Journal of Human Rights}}</ref>

In Zimbabwe, the global increase in lithium prices in the early 2020s triggered a 'lithium fever', that led to conflicts between small-scale artisanal miners and large-scale mining companies, often Chinese-owned, backed by the Zimbabwean government which had an interest in attracting foreign investments. Artisanal miners occupied parts of the [[Sandawana mines]] and a privately owned lithium claim area in [[Goromonzi]], a rural area close to the capital [[Harare]]. The artisanal miners were later evicted after the area was cordoned off and shut down by Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Agency.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mkodzongi |first=Grasian |date=March 21, 2025 |title=Local inclusion and regulatory control key to sustainable mining : Lessons learnt from China's scramble for Zimbabwe's lithium reserves |url=https://nai.uu.se/stories-and-events/news/2025-03-21-local-inclusion-and-regulatory-control-key-to-sustainable-mining.html |journal=NAI Policy Notes 2025:3, the Nordic Africa Institute}}</ref>

Development of the [[Thacker Pass Lithium Mine|Thacker Pass lithium mine]] in Nevada, United States, has met with protests and lawsuits from several indigenous tribes who have said they were not provided free prior and informed consent and that the project threatens cultural and sacred sites.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Price |first=Austin |date=Summer 2021 |title=The Rush for White Gold |url=https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/magazine/entry/the-rush-for-white-gold/ |journal=Earth Island Journal |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029004245/https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/magazine/entry/the-rush-for-white-gold/ |url-status=live}}</ref> They have also expressed concerns that development of the project will create risks to indigenous women, because resource extraction is linked to [[Missing and murdered Indigenous women|missing and murdered indigenous women]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chadwell |first=Jeri |date=July 21, 2021 |title=Judge to decide on injunction request to halt work on Thacker Pass lithium mine |work=This is Reno |url=https://thisisreno.com/2021/07/judge-to-decide-on-injunction-request-to-halt-work-on-thacker-pass-lithium-mine/ |access-date=October 12, 2021 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029101346/https://thisisreno.com/2021/07/judge-to-decide-on-injunction-request-to-halt-work-on-thacker-pass-lithium-mine/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Protestors have been occupying the site of the proposed mine since January 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Thacker Pass Lithium mine approval draws around-the-clock protest |url=https://sierranevadaally.org/2021/01/19/thacker-pass-lithium-mine-approval-draws-around-the-clock-protest/ |access-date=March 16, 2021 |work=Sierra Nevada Ally |date=January 19, 2021 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029145314/https://www.sierranevadaally.org/2021/01/19/thacker-pass-lithium-mine-approval-draws-around-the-clock-protest/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-20210506" />