Progress in Lithium Exploration

Context:

Exploration of lithium in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district has moved a step further with one block advancing to the second round of auctions and promising deposits now being found in the initial exploration of another block.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Dimensions of the Article:

1. News Summary
2. About Lithium
3. Uses

News Summary

Progress in Lithium Exploration:

• Chhattisgarh’s Korba District:
  • Advanced lithium exploration.
  • One block moved to the second auction round.
  • Another block shows promising deposits.

Recent Setbacks:

• Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi District:
  • Auction canceled due to low investor interest.
• Manipur’s Kamjong District:
  • Exploration halted due to local resistance.
• Other Regions:
  • Manipur, Ladakh, and Assam saw less success in exploration.
  • Local resistance in Kamjong district.
  • Poor results in Ladakh’s Merak block.
  • Abandoned plans in Assam’s Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts.

Positive Developments:

• National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET):
  • Funded a private company.
  • Found lithium deposits in Korba ranging from 168 to 295 ppm.
• Mines Ministry Auctions:
  • Since November, auctioned 38 critical mineral blocks.
  • Included lithium blocks in J&K and Chhattisgarh.
  • Korba block attracted investors; Reasi block did not and is being re-auctioned.

Preliminary Survey Results:

• Korba:
  • Lithium concentrations in bedrock samples from 10 to 2,000 ppm.
• Reasi:
  • Deposits exceeded 200 ppm.

International Ventures:

• Secured Assets Abroad:
  • Argentina’s Catamarca province through Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL).
• Exploring Opportunities:
  • Sri Lanka and Australia.

About Lithium:

• Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal with the symbol Li and atomic number 3.
• It is the lightest of all the metals and the least dense solid element.
• It is highly reactive and flammable, and easily oxidizes in air or water.

Occurrence:

• Lithium is a rare element and is mostly found in minerals such as spodumene, lepidolite, and petalite.
• It is also found in brines and clays in certain regions of the world, such as the “Lithium Triangle” in South America, which includes Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.

Uses:

Lithium has a range of industrial applications, including:

1. Lithium-ion batteries: It is a critical component of rechargeable batteries used in mobile devices, laptops, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage systems.
2. Aerospace industry: Lithium is used in the manufacturing of aircraft parts due to its lightweight and strong structural properties.
3. Glass and ceramics: Lithium is used in the production of heat-resistant glass and ceramics, such as ovenware and laboratory equipment.
4. Pharmaceuticals: Lithium is used as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
5. Lubricants: Lithium is used in greases and lubricants due to its ability to reduce friction and wear.

In conclusion, lithium is a rare and highly reactive metal that has a wide range of industrial applications, particularly in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries, aerospace industry, glass and ceramics, pharmaceuticals, and lubricants.

-Source: The Hindu