Fool’s gold could spark this century’s ‘gold rush’ after scientists discovered it contains a coveted metal needed to produce greener energy.
West Virginia University scientists have discovered a surprising amount of lithium in 15 rock samples of pyrite, a common mineral that resembles its valuable counterpart, formed about 390 million years ago in the Appalachian Basin.
The results have researchers wondering whether old industrial mines could become a valuable source of lithium, but the discovery could extend far beyond the East Coast mountain range.
Lithium batteries are used to power a wide range of technologies, including phones, laptops, electric bicycles, hand-held power tools, electric vehicles, and are even used in solar energy backup storage.
West Virginia University researchers discovered lithium in fool’s gold (pictured) in the Appalachian Basin
The results have researchers wondering whether old industrial mines could become a valuable source of lithium – but the discovery could extend far beyond the East Coast mountain range (pictured, the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina).
Demand for lithium is soaring as the United States moves toward green energy, such as electric vehicles that use lithium-ion batteries that pose a serious fire risk.
Sulfur-rich pyrite does not require as many resources during the extraction process, meaning its environmental impact is much lower than the ion alternative.
And fool’s gold is found in quartz veins mined all over the United States, in states like Colorado, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Montana, meaning there could be a lot more lithium hidden in the United States.
Researchers in the world of electrochemistry and engineering have “already begun investigating how lithium-sulfur batteries could replace lithium-ion batteries,” said Shailee Bhattacharya, co-author of the study.
“I’m trying to understand how lithium and pyrite might be combined,” she said.
The team said they “unexpectedly” discovered that even with a relatively small amount of lithium in the samples, it can release a significant portion (up to 54%) of all lithium from pyrite alone.
Lithium is used to power a wide range of technologies, from electric vehicles to laptops and cell phones. There are currently 110,000 tonnes of lithium mined each year worldwide, but by 2030 this figure will need to increase to between 260,000 and almost 500,000 tonnes.
The US lithium boom is underway and there are currently 72 proposed mines in the country
Although it is unclear how white gold formed in fool’s gold, researchers have noted that lithium is very sensitive to small increases in temperature and that shales, found along the mountain range, are formed according to the same geological process.
“This is a very specific study,” but it suggests that it is possible that the shales came from old mines,” Bhattacharya said.
“We can talk about sustainable energy without using a lot of energy resources,” she added.
The world currently produces around 110,000 tonnes of lithium each year, but the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that the planet will need 2.5 to five times more lithium by 2030, or between 260 000 and almost 500,000 tonnes.
However, the real issue is not quantity, but the ability to produce the amount of lithium needed to support global green initiatives, and fool’s gold could be the answer.
Lithium in fool’s gold could be a cost-effective, more environmentally friendly and safer approach because it is extracted from a sulfur-rich mineral.
Former industrial sites leave behind what are called “mining tailings,” composed of minerals left behind after the extraction of the targeted mineral.
New mines can have a negative and serious environmental impact that can persist for years after their closure, such as deforestation, pollution, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity.
Mining for minerals like lithium and cobalt, used to power electric vehicles, has exposed 23 million people in the United States to toxic waste, destroyed 16 million acres of farmland and polluted 310,000 miles of land. rivers.
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