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Lithium source in Arkansas could meet world demand ‘nine times over’, study says
A study completed by the USGS found that there are lithium reserves located under southwestern Arkansas that’s estimated to between 5 and 19 million tons.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A new study conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE) discovered a method to “quantify the amount of lithium present in brines located in a geological unit known as the Smackover Formation.”
The study, which was done by the USGS and the ADEE’s Office of the State Geologist, noted that extraction was especially valuable when lithium is extracted from brines that’s been co-produced during oil and gas operation.
“Lithium is a critical mineral for the energy transition, and the potential for increased U.S. production to replace imports has implications for employment, manufacturing and supply-chain resilience,” said David Applegate, USGS Director. “This study illustrates the value of science in addressing economically important issues.”
According to the researchers, the Smackover Formation is described as a “relic of an ancient sea that left an extensive, porous, and permeable limestone geologic unit.” Researchers said that this geological unit dates back to the Jurassic geological time period and currently stretches under parts of Arkansas, along with Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.
“Our research was able to estimate total lithium present in the southwestern portion of the Smackover in Arkansas for the first time. We estimate there is enough dissolved lithium present in that region to replace U.S. imports of lithium and more,” said Katherine Knierim, a hydrologist and the study’s principal researcher. “It is important to caution that these estimates are an in-place assessment. We have not estimated what is technically recoverable based on newer methods to extract lithium from brines.”
There’s been more attention to research like this as the global demand for lithium has grown significantly over recent years. Experts expect for the high demand to continue due to how crucial lithium is to battery production, along with a projected trend towards the usage of more electric and hybrid vehicles.
In terms of the U.S., the country relies on imports to sustain over 25% of its lithium. That’s where the extraction of lithium in Arkansas comes into play, as USGS researchers believe that there’s enough lithium in southern Arkansas to cover current estimated lithium consumption for U.S.
USGS said that the low-end estimate is 5 million tons of lithium present in Smackover brines. This would be equivalent to over nine times the International Energy Agency’s projection of global lithium demand for electric vehicles in 2030, according to researchers.
Dr. Abigail Miller, Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare of MN, joined KARE 11 News at Noon to offer tips for parents.
MINNETONKA, Minn. — As teens have returned to school, many are participating – or will participate – in fall and winter sports.
Federal data estimates that over 50% of young people between ages 6 and 17 played on a sports team or took after-school sports lessons, forecasting that number to increase to 63% by 2030.
Playing sports can have physical and mental health benefits, including strengthening social relationships with friends and family. However, it can also become overwhelming and even lead to lower mental health due to the many expectations some young athletes are put under.
Dr. Abigail Miller, Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare of MN, joined KARE 11 News at Noon to offer tips for parents and promote mental health.
For more on the impact of youth sports and issues that impact young athletes, their families, coaches and officials, check out our serial blog SportsLife.
The City of Roseville hopes to lower pollution with the move.
ROSEVILLE, Minn — The City of Roseville has become the latest municipality in Minnesota to enact some form of a ban on plastics in the hope of lowering pollution.
The city is going after non-recyclable to-go containers with a new ordinance encouraging the use of compostable packing.
According to the ordinance, the new rules will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, but enforcement won’t begin until a year later. The initiative is part of the city’s ‘Green To Go’ ordinance, which allows only compostable, recyclable or reusable containers.
Hospitals and nursing homes are excluded from the new rules, which also carve out an exception for any packaging that doesn’t meet standards, but for which there is no practical alternative.
Minnesota lawmakers have often discussed wider plastic-banning or limiting legislation, with such a debate occurring over the most recent session.
Gov. Walz, his wife Gwen and son Gus pulled up to the Ramsey County elections office — accompanied by a secret service detail — and cast their ballots.
ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and his family walked the walk on Wednesday, casting their ballots early to encourage voters to use every opportunity available to take part in the 2024 election.
Walz, his wife Gwen and son Gus hopped in their motorcade just after 9:30 a.m. and made the 10-minute journey from Eastcliff on the University of Minnesota Campus to the Ramsey County elections office on St. Paul’s west side.
Once at the office at 90 Plato, the Walz family entered the building with the governor greeting election workers. At the counter, Tim Walz told a worker that Gus, now 18, was voting for the first time. After filling out their ballots Tim and Gus fed their ballots into the machine, with a red-shirted election worker shouting, “First time voter!” The governor and Gus high-fived as the room broke into applause.
A pool reporter said other voters seemed to go about their business, noting that Gus Walz took the opportunity to compliment an elections staffer on his Anthony Edwards sneakers.
The Democratic vice-presidential candidate stopped outside the elections office for a brief chat with reporters, saying he voted for Kamala Harris for president without mentioning his spot on the ticket. Walz also addressed interviews published Tuesday in the New York Times and The Atlantic with former Trump Chief of Staff General John Kelly. In those interviews, Kelly said the former president had expressed admiration for the generals who served Adolph Hitler, adding that Trump “certainly falls into the general definition of fascist, for sure.”
“If there was ever a red line, he has stepped across it,” Walz told reporters when asked about Trump’s alleged comments. “And so I appreciate General Kelly coming out at this moment.”
Trump’s campaign denied Kelly’s accounts Tuesday, with campaign spokesman Steven Cheung saying that Kelly had “beclowned himself with these debunked stories he has fabricated.”
Reporters also asked Walz about U.S. intelligence reports saying Russian interests were behind false allegations that he had acted inappropriately while employed as a teacher at Mankato West High School, and why he thought he had been targeted.
“Putin wants Donald Trump to win,” Walz opined.
