White gold in Spain: where is lithium and why is there no active mine?

What is lithium and why is it so important?

Lithium (Li) is a chemical element belonging to the group of alkali metals. It is the lightest and least dense metal in solid state at room temperature with a density of 0.53 g/cm³. It has the highest electrochemical potential and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals.. Due to its high reactivity, it does not appear as a natural metal, but appears as chloride in seawater and brine, as well as in the form of inert mineral compounds such as silicates or phosphates.

Li’s physicochemical properties make it difficult to replace with other elements and necessary for the development of many industrial applications.

• Lithium concentrates are used in the glass and ceramic industry and in continuous steel casting.

• Metallic lithium is used in metallurgy and in the manufacture of alloys with aluminum.

• Lithium carbonate is used in the pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder, depression and other pathologies.

• Lithium hydroxide is a key ingredient in the manufacture of lubricants and is also used to purify the air and remove CO₂ from the environment.

These last two compounds They are increasingly used in the production of rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles. and portable electronic equipment.

worldwide lithium

Australia is the largest producer and exporter of lithium concentrates extracted from the constituent silicates of “hard rocks”.

Chile and also Argentina produce most of the lithium carbonate from the exploitation of the salt flats.

As well as being one of the largest producers of Li, China is the main importer of this metal, both concentrated and processed, dominating the refining production and most of the lithium-ion battery production worldwide.

In the European Union, the dependence on imports of metal concentrates is close to 87% because only Portugal has stable lithium production.. In addition, the EU is completely dependent on the import of processed compounds because no country in the Union carries out refining operations. Although the EU recycles lithium-ion batteries, industrial recycling is currently not considered economically viable.

The situation described, its economic importance, the risk in supply – as several countries control production – and the absolute dependence on the part of the EU countries, led to the need to know about the existence and potential of European deposits. appropriate strategies for accessing our resources.

Some of the most recent work has come to create 8,839,750 tonnes of lithium oxide declared resources in the EU. This amount was created taking into account 27 potential deposits in 9 Union countries: Czech Republic, Serbia, Ukraine, Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Finland.

It is important to note that mineral resource and reserve data change as mineral exploration and exploration progress. In addition, these values ​​are always subject to international market conditions.

lithium in spain

There are significant mineralizations of Li found in Galicia, Castilla y León and Extremadura in Spain, often associated with highly developed granitic bodies such as pegmatites. There are also significant Li concentrations in hydrothermal veins and rocks affected by metasomatic processes.

Li is found while forming part of the structure of silicate minerals such as spodumene, petalite, lepidolite and zinwaldite, and phosphates such as those belonging to the amblionite-montebrasite series.

Since 2011 there is no active exploitation for the extraction of lithium in Spain.. The latest production came from Mina Feli in La Fregeneda, in the province of Salamanca. It is a feldspar and lepidolite deposit in pegmatitic dykes. According to the data of the company benefiting from the deposit, approximately 8,000 tons of ore containing 0.5% LiO₂ was obtained in 2010. From Mina Feli’s lepidolite, Li’s target was the ceramics industry in Castellón.

Although there are no active mines for the extraction of Li in Spain, In recent years, very important resource and reserve estimations and exploration projects have been carried out for this metal.

Additionally, some of these projects offer new aspects, such as the production of Li hydroxide, this refined lithium that we are now totally dependent on.

If we used our own mining resources with the electric car and battery factories already in operation, we could create the entire electric mobility value chain in the country.. In fact, the European Commission highlighted the interest and strategic importance these lithium mine projects in Spain could have for the development of the automotive industry.

However, part of our society is a motivated protective attitude towards the environmentdenies the execution of mining projects, preventing this activity from developing in the immediate vicinity. It should be said that Spain, like other Union countries, has very restrictive legislation on the operation of mineral deposits and a mine that does not guarantee economic, social, cultural and environmental order has not been started. of the region.

While recycling and reuse will play a key role in the future, the contribution of mining is necessary to meet current demand.

Our society must decide whether to use resources responsibly and to reduce the massive dependence on imports. or leaving our unused deposits and continuing to buy the raw materials required for ecological transition from other producer countries and at the price determined by the international market.

Reference article: https://theconversation.com/oro-blanco-en-espana-donde-hay-litio-y-por-que-no-hay-minas-activas-170599

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Susana Mª Timón Sanchez He is a senior scientist in the Geological Resources Department for the Ecological Transition at the Spanish Institute of Geology and Mining (IGME – CSIC).

Contact details of the environment department: crisisclimatica@prensaiberica.es

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