The lithium mine, calculated using a machine-learning model and geological information that predicted maps of lithium concentration, represents 35% to 136% of the current amount of lithium estimated to be in the U.S. Lithium could be extracted from the waste stream of the brines—deposits of groundwater rich in minerals—in the Smackover Formation.

Arkansas is sitting atop lithium reserves that could be vast enough to satisfy the entire world’s demand for EV batteries, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

New research suggests Arkansas may be home to up to 19 million tons of lithium reserves, potentially giving the U.S. the chance to lead in the EV industry.

Federal and state researchers said there might be five million to 19 million tons of lithium, more than enough to meet the world’s demand for the battery ingredient.

Lithium in Arkansas - A recent study from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment estimate

The amount of lithium that could be extracted from south Arkansas brine might be more than enough to meet global demand.

Researchers said in a recent article that Arkansas may have 19 million tons of lithium, which is used in rechargeable batteries for important products like phones and electric cars. The researchers said in their article released last month in the journal Science Advances they had “calculated that there are 5.

A recent article published in the journal Science Advances suggests that Arkansas may have as much as 19 million tons of raw lithium, which could be mined and used in rechargeable batteries.