Scientists discover $1,500,000,000,000 Lithium deposit in US, revealing its massive potential impact
In a discovery that could reshape America’s clean energy future, scientists have uncovered a massive lithium deposit in the McDermitt Caldera, straddling the border between Nevada and Oregon.
Valued at an estimated $1.5 trillion, the deposit contains approximately 20 to 40 million metric tons of lithium—potentially enough to power 600 million electric vehicles.
This finding has sparked excitement over its potential to boost the U.S. economy and reduce reliance on foreign lithium supplies.
However, it has also ignited fierce debate over its environmental and social impacts, particularly on local wildlife and indigenous communities.
A Geological Marvel: The McDermitt Caldera
The McDermitt Caldera is a geological wonder, formed 16.4 million years ago by a supervolcanic eruption linked to the Yellowstone hotspot.
Unlike the mountain-shaped volcanoes often pictured, calderas are sprawling depressions that can still pose significant geological power.
The McDermitt Caldera, approximately 45 kilometers long and 35 kilometers wide, is considered extinct, with no activity since its formation.
Its unique environment concentrated vast amounts of lithium in claystone, particularly within lakebed sediments, through hydrothermal enrichment processes after volcanic eruptions.
A 2023 study published in Science Advances by researchers from Lithium Americas Corporation, GNS Science, and Oregon State University confirmed the caldera’s potential as one of the world’s largest lithium reserves.
The study estimates the deposit contains 20 to 40 million metric tons of lithium, surpassing Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, previously considered the largest lithium deposit globally.
The lithium, found primarily in illite clays, is often referred to as “white gold” due to its value and pale appearance.
The deposit’s estimated $1.5 trillion value, based on 2022 lithium carbonate prices of $37,000 per metric ton, represents about 4% of the U.S.’s $36 trillion national debt.
This economic potential has drawn significant attention, particularly as lithium demand surges for batteries in electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy storage systems.
Mining in Nevada: A Fast-Track to Economic Growth
In Nevada, mining is already underway at the Thacker Pass project, located on the southern tip of the McDermitt Caldera.
Led by Canada-based Lithium Americas Corporation, the project is set to begin extraction as early as 2026, with a projected lifespan of 40 years.
The mine has secured over $2 billion in U.S. government loans and investments from companies like General Motors, reflecting strong support for domestic lithium production.
The economic benefits are substantial. Thacker Pass is expected to create hundreds of jobs in Humboldt County, Nevada, and stimulate the local economy.
It could produce enough lithium to support millions of electric vehicle batteries, positioning the U.S. as a key player in the global battery supply chain.
The project aligns with the Biden administration’s National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries, which aims to source, refine, and recycle more lithium domestically to reduce reliance on imports from countries like China, Argentina, and Chile.
However, the project has not been without controversy.
It has faced lawsuits and protests from environmentalists, ranchers, and indigenous tribes, who argue that the mine will harm local ecosystems and sacred sites.
Despite these challenges, Lithium Americas has won mining rights after years of legal battles, and the project is moving forward.
Oregon’s Cautious Approach: Balancing Benefits and Risks
While Nevada embraces lithium mining, Oregon is taking a more measured stance.
Companies like Australia-based Jindalee Resources are exploring lithium deposits on the Oregon side of the caldera, with drilling programs confirming significant potential.
In February 2023, Jindalee announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate, suggesting the deposit could be one of the largest in the U.S.
However, no mine has been proposed yet, and Oregon officials are grappling with how to proceed.
Greg Smith, Malheur County’s director of economic development, emphasized the need for a careful approach: “We need to do this the Oregon way—with full accountability and shared benefits.”
This reflects Oregon’s commitment to balancing economic opportunities with environmental and cultural preservation.
The Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club supports cleaner energy but opposes drilling that could harm fragile habitats, such as those of the greater sage-grouse.
Local communities see potential economic benefits, including much-needed jobs in Malheur County.
However, opposition from environmental groups and indigenous tribes has slowed progress, with concerns about water disruption and habitat destruction at the forefront of the debate.
Environmental Impacts: A Threat to Wildlife and Water
The environmental stakes of lithium mining in the McDermitt Caldera are high.
The area is a critical habitat for the greater sage-grouse, a species whose population has declined significantly due to habitat loss.
Sage-grouse rely on sagebrush ecosystems for mating, nesting, and foraging, and open-pit mining could fragment or destroy these areas.
Conservationists warn that mining could be a “death knell” for the species, which is already imperiled across much of its range.
The caldera’s high desert environment is also water-scarce, and mining operations could disrupt local aquifers and surface water sources.
The extraction process, which involves chemical leaching, risks leaving behind toxic waste that could further degrade the landscape.
The McDermitt Creek watershed, home to the federally threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout, is particularly vulnerable.
| Environmental Concern | Potential Impact | Affected Species/Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat Destruction | Fragmentation of sagebrush ecosystems | Greater sage-grouse |
| Water Disruption | Depletion of aquifers and surface water | Lahontan cutthroat trout, local communities |
| Toxic Waste | Soil and water contamination | High desert ecosystem |
Cultural Impacts: Indigenous Tribes Fight for Sacred Lands
For the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, the McDermitt Caldera is more than a resource—it is a sacred landscape known as “Peehee Mu’huh” (Rotten Moon).
The area contains 923 Native cultural sites, including burial grounds and massacre sites, 56 of which are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Tribes argue that mining would desecrate these sites and disrupt traditional ceremonies, violating their cultural heritage.
In Nevada, the Thacker Pass project has been a lightning rod for opposition.
Tribes, including the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, have sued to stop the mine, arguing that they were not adequately consulted during the permitting process, as required by federal law.
Evidence of a 19th-century massacre at the site has further fueled resistance, with tribes calling for its protection as a historical and cultural landmark.
In Oregon, where exploration is still in early stages, tribes remain vigilant.
The Burns Paiute Tribe and other groups have expressed concerns about potential mining, emphasizing the need for meaningful consultation and respect for their ancestral lands.
The Global Context: Lithium’s Role in Clean Energy
Lithium is a cornerstone of the global transition to renewable energy.
As a key component in lithium-ion batteries, it powers electric vehicles, grid storage systems, and consumer electronics.
The U.S. consumes about 100,000 tons of lithium annually, a figure projected to rise to 1 million tons as the nation electrifies its transportation sector.
Yet, the U.S. produces only a fraction of its lithium needs, relying heavily on imports from Argentina, Chile, China, and Russia.
The McDermitt Caldera deposit could change this dynamic.
If fully developed, it could supply enough lithium to meet domestic demand for decades, enhancing energy security and supporting the Biden administration’s goal of a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.
The administration has labeled lithium a “critical mineral” and expedited permitting processes to encourage domestic production.
Beyond batteries, lithium has medicinal uses, such as treating bipolar disorder, adding to its value.
However, the global “lithium rush” has raised questions about sustainable extraction and the environmental cost of meeting clean energy demands.
A Delicate Balance: The Path Forward
The discovery of a $1.5 trillion lithium deposit in the McDermitt Caldera presents a historic opportunity for the U.S. to lead in the clean energy revolution.
Yet, it also poses significant challenges in balancing economic growth with environmental and cultural preservation.
Nevada’s Thacker Pass project, set to begin in 2026, promises jobs and energy independence but faces ongoing resistance from tribes and conservationists.
Oregon, still in the exploration phase, must navigate similar tensions as it weighs the benefits of mining against its ecological and cultural costs.
Proponents argue that advancements in mining technology, such as extracting lithium from volcanic sedimentary clays, could reduce environmental impacts.
They also highlight the economic and strategic importance of a domestic lithium supply.
Critics, however, call for stronger regulations, comprehensive environmental assessments, and meaningful engagement with indigenous communities to ensure that mining does not come at the expense of irreplaceable ecosystems and cultural heritage.
As the debate unfolds, the McDermitt Caldera stands as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing the clean energy transition.
How the U.S. navigates this opportunity will shape not only the future of this unique landscape but also its role in building a sustainable global economy.
