Experts Stunned to Discover $1.5 Trillion Worth of ‘Volcanic White Gold’, Largest Deposit Ever in the U.S
At present, natural resources are a huge source of contention between industries and environmental activists. This debate has again raised its head at McDermitt Caldera in Oregon, stated Earth. Lithium deposits found in the region have stunned people from all corners. Findings regarding this deposit have been published in the journal Minerals.
Researchers estimate that the region contains 20 to 40 million metric tons of lithium. If the assertion turns out to be true, then not only are the deposits one of the largest in the United States, they could also fetch around $1.5 trillion. Considering how vital the element is in electric batteries, industry professionals were excited by the site's prospect. Environmental activists, though, want to function with caution and want experts to understand all possible consequences before extraction.
The McDermitt Caldera has long been under the radar of mining companies, according to Phys.org. Researchers believe that a hydrothermal enrichment was facilitated in the area after a volcanic eruption. This enrichment caused magma from the depths to arrive at the centre, which is now the caldera, and create the Montana Mountains. Throughout the process, multiple faults, fissures, and fractures occurred, which aided lithium in arriving at the surface. A study published in Science Advances claimed that this is the reason that has formed possibly one of the largest known lithium reserves in the world.
The McDermitt Caldera site is around 45 kilometers long and 35 kilometers wide. For years, mining companies and local communities have been at a crossroads about the use of this site. In 2017, a team of researchers found evidence that indicated that a portion of the caldera called Thacker Pass contained massive lithium deposits. Lithium Americas, a mining company, bought a stake in the portion and began its exploration. Locals and native groups protested, but eventually the company was given the right to mine at the site.
Local communities are stressed at the prospect of large-scale extraction, because they are not sure of its effects on the region's overall environment, according to Earth. The lack of environmental reviews by the authorities has drawn a lot of criticism. "This feature is 16 million years old, and we’re making decisions in a matter of years," said Sammy Castonguay, a geologist at Treasure Valley Community College.
Activists further added that not only could the environment be in danger, but also the lives of inhabitants like pronghorn antelope, sage-grouse, and other rare species. Sage-grouse has already lost a lot of habitat, hence it might be difficult for the creature to recover from the danger posed by McDermitt Caldera mining activities. Native American communities also attach a lot of importance to the site, and its exploitation would hurt their beliefs. Past drilling activities have showcased that they can hinder the groundwater tables of the region. Activists believe that whatever the future of the site may be, the interests and sentiments of locals should be in focus.
Industry advocates, though, present a different side of the story. The extraction could make the U.S. the largest producer of lithium and, in the process, create a lot of jobs in the region. The economic benefit could be life-transforming, and experts think it shouldn't be ignored.