The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) identified a possible 900,000 metric ton deposit of lithium in the Northern Appalachians, with the largest concentrations in Maine and New Hampshire, which “could replace imports for a century or more.”
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“USGS mineral science is the leading edge in the effort to restore America’s mineral independence by mapping our nation’s mineral resources. Everything else follows on the science: permitting reform and other policy changes to support investment in clean, responsible mining to 21st-century standards, and mining workforce training for new American jobs. The United States was the dominant world producer of lithium three decades ago, and this research highlights the abundant potential to reclaim our mineral independence,” said USGS Director Ned Mamula.
According to the report, the largest concentration of the newly discovered lithium deposit was in Maine and New Hampshire.
Lithium is critical for most aspects of modern technology, from military equipment to consumer goods. It is an essential component in batteries, but, according to the USGS, the U.S. relied on imports for more than half of its lithium needs in 2025.
Currently, Australia is the largest lithium producer, with China coming in second place. China also accounts for the majority of the global lithium refining capacity and production.
Across the entire Appalachian region, the USGS estimates that there are approximately 2.3 million tons of economically recoverable lithium. That amount could replace 328 years worth of U.S. lithium imports at 2025 levels.
Any attempt to actually extract lithium from Maine would likely come into conflict with the state’s exacting environmental standards and left-wing government.
“Any attempt to actually extract lithium from Maine would likely come into conflict with the state’s exacting environmental standards and left-wing government.”
Would the federal government have to work within those? Seems like they’ll just come in and take it.
try to mine anything in Maine beside healthcare
Maine won’t allow it! Anything that benefits Mainers and the people of the U.S, is bad as there is no profit for the Dems.. Now if China got to mine it the RED Carpet would be rolled out
The only good thing about democrat rule is our properties are protected from unethical mining practices. They used to have to prove they could retain a hundred year flood. Hundred year floods occur yearly now. No mining company has the ability to control that. They would destroy every watershed involved. Anyone supporting mining in New England is a brainwashed cunt who should be forced to drink mining byproduct.
They can mine the lithium and follow conservation rules enacted in Maine to protect the environment. It’s not an either/or choice, just mine the minerals in an environmentally safe way.
Old news, there is a couple in the Bethel area (I think) that is sitting a large deposit, but there it sits because of Maine’s laws. There are no conservation laws to follow, the dems in Augusta say NO.
Ain’t ever gonna happen. Ever.
Have Trump oppose mining in Maine and the dems here would allow it in a heartbeat.
Karen and Teddy better get those bridge signs printed up .
Dig, baby, DIG !
Democrats would rather put wind mills and solar farms there (of course to be supplemented by increasing already high electric costs to the consumers)!
The only mining done in Maine is by Augusta mining the federal government for welfare dollars to support the illegal immigrants that democrat/communists have brought here
Maine’s environment is sacred! Keep the Lithium needed for our EVs coming from countries that use child labor and have no environmental protection.
Time to secure our Maine elections so Mainers can free themselves from the Demorats and live the way life should be. Mine Baby Mine.
“Massive Lithium Deposit Found in Maine….” Wow, cool! Now “we” can really go full circle on ADHD drugs…..dare to keep your kids off ’em, put on “ours”. It will help balance out the “fairy dreamer dust” on the illegal pot grown in this state (of confusion) Batteries? We don’t need no stinking batteries. We got “blow hards”. That’s ole country for wind / mills.
This will be fun to watch, on the one hand Lithium is the principal metal for all these ‘clean energy technologies that are worshipped by some people, on the other hand…lithium is a dirtier extraction than coal. Brine mining just won’t do..we don’t have any way to dispose of the nasty stuff…Hard rock crushing extraction used boatloads of water, which evidently Augusta doesn’t want anyone to use..How do they keep the Renewable Goddess clothed while simultaneously turning down lithium extraction without admitting it’s dirty? I see some major league lying coming up…may even top the tatoo…
There is no lithium in Adderall, the primary ADHD drug. Instead, it is a mixture of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen.
Lithium is a drug for bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression.
The thing to remember about the Appalachian Mountains is that they ones or higher than the Himalayas. Over time they have worn down, with the top 4+ MILES of height, becoming the rocks and sand of our soil.
That’s what makes the lithium accessible, nature has already dug down 20,000–25,000 feet for us. As I understand it, the lithium is obtained by crushing the rock and then treating it with sulfuric acid, which also involves a great deal of water.
There’s not a lot of water on the top of the mountains as they feed our aquifers, and the last thing we wanna do is contaminate our aquifers. It would be nice to have the narrow gauge railroads that we had a century ago to haul the crushed rock out by rail, but the Maine Central put them a lot of business, but not letting them cross its north/south track.
this is very dirty mining, which is why I don’t consider lithium vehicles to be clean.
Democrats will endorse anything as long as it’s 100% Union Labor and the Maine Communist Party gets their appropriate slice. New Hampshire will be totally different because New Hampshire is still part of America.
If it’s anywhere close to the Appalacian Trial forget it.