Lithium is the lightest and the least dense of all metals, UPSC.

Lithium Deposits in India

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Context: 1,600 tonnes of lithium resources discovered in Karnataka.

Details

The Discovery

Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has found presence of Lithium resources in Mandya and Yadgiri districts, Karnataka.
AMD has established 1,600 tonnes (G3 stage) Lithium resources in Marlagalla area, Mandya district, Karnataka.

Lithium in India

Lithium have been identified as critical and strategic minerals under Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Act 2023.

Potential Lithium reserves in India

AMD is carrying out exploration for Lithium in the potential geological domains in parts of Korba District, Chhattisgarh.
The major mica belts located in Rajasthan, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh and Pegmatite Belts in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka are the potential geological domains in the country for Lithium resources.
AMD in Himachal Pradesh has led to the identification of surface uranium occurrence in Masanbal, Hamirpur district.

India’s lithium demand

Currently, India meets the lithium demand through 100% import mostly from (China and Hong Kong).

Lithium

Natural abundance

Lithium does not occur as the metal in nature.
It is found combined in small amounts in nearly all igneous rocks and in the waters of many mineral springs.
Spodumene, petalite, lepidolite, and amblygonite are important minerals containing lithium.
Most lithium is currently produced in Chile, from brines that yield lithium carbonate when treated with sodium carbonate.
The metal is produced by the electrolysis of molten lithium chloride and potassium chloride.

Characteristics

Soft, silvery-white alkali toxic metal and has the lowest density of all metals. .
It reacts vigorously with water.

Applications of Lithium

Batteries: Rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles. Lithium is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys and clocks.
Alloys: Lithium metal is made into alloys with aluminium and magnesium, improving their strength and making them lighter. A magnesium-lithium alloy is used for armour plating. Aluminium-lithium alloys are used in aircraft, bicycle frames and high-speed trains.
Industrial Use: Lithium oxide is used in special glasses and glass ceramics.
Lithium chloride is one of the most hygroscopic materials known, and is used in air conditioning and industrial drying systems (as is lithium bromide).
Lithium stearate is used as an all-purpose and high-temperature lubricant.
Lithium hydride is used as a means of storing hydrogen for use as a fuel.
Medical Use: Lithium carbonate is used in drugs to treat manic depression, although its action on the brain is still not fully understood.

Global Lithium Reserve and Production

Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, collectively referred to as the Lithium Triangle, account for roughly 53.1 percent of the global lithium resources.
The global production of lithium in 2022 was estimated at 130 thousand tonnes with Australia being the largest producer followed by Chile, China and Argentina.