Earth's Resources Investigation Report Assignment

Introduction

Lithium is a soft, silver or grey coloured, lightweight alkali metal, the third lightest element on the periodic table, and makes up 0.002% of the Earth's crust. Lithium is a very versatile ore as it is widely used in the manufacture of batteries, which power smartphones, electric cars, and more. Lithium batteries are different from traditional batteries as they are heatresistant and highly reactive; this therefore also means that lithium batteries can hold a charge for a greater amount of time than regular batteries. Lithium is also used in strengthening glass and ceramics, as lithium is strong, durable, and heat-resistant. Examples of lithium glass include smartphones, cooktops, buildings, and more. Even in some medications, more specifically, lithium is a mood stabilizer medicine, commonly used to treat mental health issues such as bipolar disease, depression, schizophrenia, and mania. In brief, Lithium is important as it is one of the most sought-after resources on earth and is highly versatile in many areas.

In Australia Lithium mining produces a 47% of the world's lithium which is almost half, The majority of this lithium is mined in Western Australia.

47% of the world's lithium is found in Australia (Pistilli, Lithium Mines in Australia, 2024)

Inquiry Questions

What method of mining is most used for extraction?

Open-pit mining has been utilised by Australian lithium mines

Australia's first underground lithium mine is located at Liontown Resources' Kathleen Valley operation in Western Australia which commenced extraction April 9, 2025.

This dual approach allows access to higher-grade lithium-bearing pegmatites while optimizing resource recovery and extending the project's operational lifespan.

Unlike conventional open-pit operations that dominate Australia's lithium ambitions, the underground component at Kathleen Valley enables surgical extraction of high-value ore zones with precision that surface mining cannot match.

Lithium mining in Australia occurs largely in the extraction and processing of hard-rock deposits

How is lithium formed overtime?

Lithium is highly reactive and is not formed naturally in its pure form. It is often found as a product of chemical compounds, and sourced by hard rock minerals, sea water, or brines which are saltwater reservoirs.

Does extracting the resource harm the environment in anyway?

Hard rock mining can cause significant land disruption, waste generation in the form of tailings, and considerable energy use, all contributing to the overall environmental impact of lithium production

Conducting

“Carry out your procedures, gathering reliable and valid data, including quantitative data. Ensure you use a range of reliable secondary sources, acknowledging them using the Harvard format”

To investigate Lithium I have gathered information from a variety of second hand resources by conducting research:

summary notes I have gathered as follows

Australia's first underground lithium mine is located at Liontown Resources' Kathleen Valley operation in Western Australia which commenced extraction April 9, 2025.

This dual approach allows access to higher-grade lithium-bearing pegmatites while optimizing resource recovery and extending the project's operational lifespan.

Unlike conventional open-pit operations that dominate Australia's lithium ambitions, the underground component at Kathleen Valley enables surgical extraction of high-value ore zones with precision that surface mining cannot match.

• Lithium makes up only 0.002% of the earth's crust it is a soft, silver or grey coloured, lightweight alkali metal

• that is the third lightest element on the periodic table.

• lithium is widely used in batteries, which power everything from smartphones to electric cars.

• Lithium batteries are different to traditional batteries as they hold a charge for longer,

• they are heat resistant and highly reactive.

• it is also used in strengthening glass and ceramics, used in some medication.

• one of the most sought-after resources on earth 

It is found inside hard rock pegmatite ores.

• Brine deposits in which the lithium grade is about 0.1% Li2O

• Hard-rock deposits in which the lithium grade varies from 0.6 to 1.0% Li2O in various Li-bearing minerals

• extraction and processing of hard-rock deposits of the spodumene ore. Processing the ore produces chemical or technical grade lithium concentrates.

• 47% of the world's lithium comes from Australia

• Lithium is most often found in the mineral spodumene, from which it must be extracted, processed and refined

• lithium is used during electric vehicle production;

• Lithium help creates the lightweight batteries that they need to function.

• With demand for Electric cars on the rise, lithium is very useful. 

• Lithium is also used in strengthening glass and ceramics, as lithium is strong, durable, and heat-resistant. Examples of lithium glass include smartphones, cooktops, buildings, and more. 

• Lithium can be used as a mood stabilising medicine

• Used to treat mental health problems including: mania, hypomania, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and also some types of depression

• Has side effects including: nausea or diarrhoea, feeling thirsty, tremor, and changes in sense of taste

Processing

Select, process and present your data in appropriate formats. Select the most relevant and reliable data. Present your data in the most suitable formats, using technology where appropriate. Use mathematical tools to process your quantitative data. Evaluate the quality of your data and make improvements as necessary

Problem Solving

Identify problems associated with the extraction, production or processing of the resource and one sustainability related problem associated with the production of the resource. Think critically and check that your solutions are consistent with evidence (data) collected.

Problems associated with extraction risks in polluting local water sources Hard rock mining, can cause significant land disturbance Problems associated with production New production plants can cause Habitat Destruction and Biodiversity Loss

Problems associated with processing process involves pumping saltwater to the surface, where it is evaporated to remove the lithium and other minerals. metals are toxic and can contaminate water sources, threatening humans and animals.