USGS Identifies Major Lithium Deposit in Appalachians

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has identified an estimated 2.3 million metric tons of lithium oxide in the Appalachian region, potentially enough to replace centuries of U.S. lithium imports at current levels, Jake Angeli reported for Fortune.

The U.S. currently relies heavily on imports of lithium carbonate—primarily from Chile and Argentina.

“This research shows that the Appalachians contain enough lithium to help meet the nation’s growing needs,” said USGS Director Ned Mamula, calling it “a major contribution to U.S. mineral security” amid rapidly rising global demand.

Demand for lithium has surged as manufacturers shift from traditional batteries to lithium-ion technology.

The USGS expects global lithium production capacity to double by 2029.

The U.S. currently relies heavily on imports of lithium carbonate—primarily from Chile and Argentina—while China dominates global lithium-ion battery production. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, the U.S. imported nearly $85 million worth of lithium-ion batteries from China over the past year.

Of the estimated deposits, about 1.43 million metric tons are located in the southern Appalachians, particularly in the Carolinas, with another 900,000 metric tons in Maine and New Hampshire.

USGS estimates the resource could support production for up to 130 million electric vehicles, as well as billions of consumer electronics and grid-scale batteries.