this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2023
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Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found (www.chemistryworld.com)
submitted 1 year ago by L4s to c/technology
44 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found::Find could point to new ways to prospect for material in high demand for batteries.

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[–] [email protected] 106 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Cute, they seem to completely gloss over the fact that the review of the site's environmental impact was rushed, the fact that it'll likely be disrupting several native habitats, including at least one species that doesn't exist elsewhere, the fact that it'll apparently be destroying places that are important to the culture and religions of the surrounding tribal groups (apparently thacker pass is sacred as a massacre against native Americans was committed there, and that they were not consulted before it was approved like they were supposed to), or any of the other issues with it.

We need lithium, but considering how bad of a reputation resource extraction companies have, could we not gloss over the fact that, once again, a mining company is about to bulldoze a lot of land with ecological, cultural, and religious importance in the name of green capitalism? At least force them to mine underground instead of gouging yet another scar into the face of the earth with an open pit mine.

[–] Pohl 49 points 1 year ago (3 children)

You gotta choose. Dig messy holes at home, make friends with china, or rapacious exploitation of developing nations.

Which one do you like best?

I’m not advocating for a bunch of nasty mines in my backyard. I’m just pointing out that “not mining” is a choice that is pretty ugly also.

[–] [email protected] 56 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Ensure that the indigenous groups that have claim to the area are entitled at least 50% ownership and profit. Provide them priority on training and jobs. Give them a stake in the entire operation.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

Honestly, this. 50% might be a bit much because unfortunately, if you give them too much ownership then you'll just end up sending the mines overseas again. At least here you're (hopefully) creating jobs for Americans, both indigenous and not.

Tbh, in my opinion if someone's building on land that is culturally and/or religiously significant to indigenous tribes in the US, then there should be something along the lines of 5% of profits gets split between all US tribes (based on tribal membership), and then a split of >30% of ownership and profits that gets split between the tribes that have a direct claim to the cultural/religiousness of the land used (with the claim again being split between tribes based on tribal membership).

Note, those are "ass numbers" (I pulled them out of my ass) and not meant to actually be specific values so much as they're intended to get the idea across.

My biggest worry with such a system, however, is that it could lead to increased corporate entitlement ("we're paying the "savage tax" aren't we? Fuck off and let us rape the land lmoa"). At the same time though, Native Americans have a hard enough time of getting corpos to respect them; so receiving profits and sharing ownership of companies or installations on historically significant tribal land might be worth it despite the risk of further encouraging corporate entitlement.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nah I'm with the other lemmy user, 50%, take it or increase it. And they should have a say on every project and be unionized. It's time we stood up to the companies and business folks that seek to imprison people in their homeland.

And we should push for Land Back rather than trying to make the companies and business folks feel safe here.

[–] kava 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If the mining company doesn't make enough $$$ they won't do it and will just go somewhere else that makes $$$. You cut out 50% profit and it makes it a pretty easy decision to avoid US mines and go to other countries.

Ultimately they are for profit businesses that will focus their investment on where they can make the most profit. It's sort of like how fracking for oil is only done once it reaches a certain price per barrel. Before a price point, it's not profitable. After, it is.

50% profit reduction is a huge decrease. Would make virtually any other mine in the world more profitable.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Eh, if they fail, that just means they don't get to poison the earth and groundwater while stealing resources from the ground, sounds like a win-win to me.

[–] kava 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, they still will. And we will still buy the lithium to run our phones and laptops.

It's just we will export the damage to 3rd world countries instead.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I believe change needs to start locally, and if we rise up and challenge capital interests, maybe other countries can too.

[–] kava 1 points 1 year ago

That's a noble sentiment, truly.

So, let's consider taking a stand by eliminating our use of products like lithium-ion batteries, laptops, electric cars, and all the myriad of devices that make our lives more convenient and connected. If we really want to inspire change, locally and globally, we should start by examining our own consumption habits, right?

I trust you'll lead the way by taking the first steps to eliminate your reliance on these technologies. It's a tall order, but change has to start somewhere, doesn't it?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Are ass numbers anything like ass penny’s?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm not advocating this just making a point.

They could have 30% ownership and still receive 70% of the income. It's all in the contract. In this case, regardless of the financials, it would mean that they only have 30% of the power on decision making, and that's if that's left up to ownership, in any capacity. Maybe they only have 30% of the votes for the C-suite and after that owners are boxed out.

There are so many different ways to set up a company. Who knows.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You're right, everyone should lend a hand in wasting the world. Would be unfair to leave them out like that

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Sorry, how is extracting lithium destroying the world?

[–] surewhynotlem 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You forgot the best option! Forcing Mexico to become the 51st State

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If Republicans win in 2024, they'll be war with Mexico. I'm as sure about it as the sun rising.

They'll need a drum to beat, and since their social policy is losing, it'll be "attack the cartels" full on military on foreign soil.

As much as the cartels are a problem, decriminalization is a better better option to defang them and then give Mexico a hand cleaning up if they ask for it. They aren't incompetent, shit, they build half of everything on this planet, more than China. We can, and should, respect their sovereignity.

[–] magnusrufus 3 points 1 year ago

A significant portion of the right doesn't even respect their humanity, respecting their sovereignty is going to be a tough one.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Seawater extraction is starting to ramp up. We may not have to make that choice at all.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's going to be mined somewhere. Acting like American land is too sacred to be mined for lithium while mining has equally bad if not worse effects on other places is basically NIMBYism for resource extraction. And while BANANAs might be effective in urban development, I don't think too many people and especially not developed worlders want the effects of that if the philosophy is applied to mining lithium.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As an American, I'd prefer we mine our own rather than externalize our sins to some other region of the world.

Obviously I wish we didn't tear anything up, and also wish other countries weren't turn up either, but if we want batteries we should be responsible

[–] brianorca 1 points 1 year ago

There's a fair chance we would mine it more responsibly than if somebody else mines it elsewhere.

[–] Audbol 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The thing about open pit mining vs. Underground is, when you are faced with options on how to solve a problem it's very rare that safe, fast, inexpensive, and practical are all in the same choice.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pick two:

  • Safe
  • Fast
  • Practical
  • Cheap
[–] Audbol 0 points 1 year ago

Strip mining is all four of those

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

When has any of that ever stopped them?

[–] [email protected] 65 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well fuck. Is America about to invade America? I don't know how much more freedom I can take.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My understanding is the site is in Nevada, so we've already nuked the bastards back to the stone age.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Oh, good, what a relief?

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Arkansas sends record number of children into Volcano

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Breaking previous record held by a small island in the South Pacific

[–] cheese_greater 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I wonder how "they" decide how much gets used for medicines vs all the technical applications

[–] aelwero 16 points 1 year ago

"they" simply put it up for sale... pharma buys what they need to make however much medicines will sell, and tech buys what they need to make however much batteries will sell.

I'm relatively certain the amount purchased by pharma will be miniscule as hell compared to what tech will buy. Lithium batteries are everywhere. You're probably staring right at one :)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

$$$$$$

The “invisible hand” decides.

[–] topinambour_rex 3 points 1 year ago

US needs freedom, let's import democracy to US.

[–] reddig33 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just in time for Zinc Air batteries to displace the demand for lithium.

https://electrek.co/2023/08/28/zinc-air-batteries-ev-industry/

[–] SpaceNoodle 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Aaaaaaaany minute now

[–] broccoliman 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

New revolutionary Battery technology, 30% more capacity with less weight!!! No bad resources used!!!

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

Graphene super capacitors are just around the corner! Instant charging, cheap materials!

I swear they say a new type of battery/power storage is right around the corner every week.