r/technology • u/ourlifeintoronto • Sep 10 '23

Transportation Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found

https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/lithium-discovery-in-us-volcano-could-be-biggest-deposit-ever-found/4018032.article
13.9k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

879 comments sorted by

View all comments

22

u/ontopofyourmom Sep 11 '23

I am an Oregonian and an environmentalist.

I will also mention that this land is in the least-populated part of the Lower 48 and is ecologically and touristically uninteresting. Dig away, I say, and be tidy about it.

6

u/SerChonk Sep 11 '23

touristically uninteresting

For now, but wait until they open up a spa with some sweet, sweet, anti-depression hot springs! Bathe in that lithium, baby!

2

u/ontopofyourmom Sep 11 '23

I used to take a "therapeutic dose" of lithium for my bipolar but it wound up being the wrong one for me. It did what it was supposed to do but that wasn't what I needed. Anyway I still take a supplement-sized dose because it makes antidepressants work better and reduces suicide risk.

Living somewhere with even tiny quantities of lithium in the water reduces suicide risk and it should be included in every multivitamin. I think it should be added to the water, but that would be a non-starter not worth wasting time or effort on politically.

1

u/Flycat777 Sep 11 '23

If you like open spaces, it's beautiful. So quiet when the wind isn't blowing, you can hear the blood rushing through your ears. But there's a LOT of space.

Known lithium for decades up there, and NV is a mining state with good monitoring. Agree, protect McDermott Creek and the treasured spots, mine it right, follow the laws, hire the people, and pay the taxes. (Side note, I was born in Humbolt County with a lot of family still there)

1

u/goathill Sep 11 '23

I feel like i have heard lots of opposing views on KMUD recently about this mine, largely because the potential mine site is sacred ground. I do want good sources or domestic lithium, but not at the expense of ruining sacred sites.

0

u/appleparkfive Sep 11 '23

It's also really close to the Tesla Gigafactory. Reno, NV is already growing more and more, and I suspect this might make it grow even larger

All the bay area tech companies realized they could just move stuff a few hours away and not pay taxes in Nevada

2

u/ontopofyourmom Sep 11 '23

Mines are largely mechanized, lithium needs to be refined, and this won't be a game-changer for the area.