• Iran has announced the discovery of its first lithium ore deposit amid extensive exploration activity in the country’s metals and mining sector. 

• The deposit located in the western province of Hamedan contains some 8.5 million metric tonnes of lithium ore, Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade (MIMT) said.

• Iran has introduced measures to expand its mining and metals sector in recent years as part of plans to diversify its economy away from oil revenues.

• Iran’s lithium deposit news would be a lifeline for the country’s battered economy.

• With deepening economic misery, largely because of US sanctions over Tehran's disputed nuclear work, many Iranians are feeling the pain of galloping inflation and rising joblessness.

• Inflation has soared to over 50 per cent, the highest level in decades. Youth unemployment remains high with over 50 per cent of Iranians being pushed below the poverty line, according to reports by Iran’s Statistics Center.

• The United States reimposed sanctions, crippling Iran’s economy by driving down crude sales, the country’s main source of revenue, after Washington withdrew in 2018 from the nuclear pact. 

Importance of lithium

• Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in batteries of electric vehicles.

• Lithium has a range of uses in both chemical and technical applications. Lithium in various forms, such as lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide and lithium chloride, is used in lubricant greases, pharmaceuticals, catalysts, air treatment and, particularly, in batteries—both non-rechargeable (primary) lithium metal batteries and rechargeable (secondary) lithium-ion batteries.

• Being the lightest known metal, lithium is also used in alloys to increase strength-to-weight ratios, taking advantage of lithium’s tensile strength and lightweight (low-density) characteristics. Aluminium-lithium alloys, for example, are used in the aerospace and motorsport industries.

• In 2010, ceramics and glass accounted for the largest share of lithium consumption. In ceramics and glassware, lithium carbonate increases strength and reduces thermal expansion, which is often essential for modern glass-ceramic cooktops.

• Lithium resources occur in two distinct categories — lithium minerals, largely from the mineral spodumene, and salts, largely from lithium-rich brines in salt lakes. Canada, China and Australia have significant resources of lithium minerals, while lithium brine is produced predominantly in Chile, followed by Argentina

• Lithium is often dubbed as “white gold” for electric vehicles.

• It plays a key role in the cathodes of all types of lithium-ion batteries that power EVs. Accordingly, the recent rise in EV adoption has sent lithium production to new highs.

• Lithium-ion batteries can power any electrical application without the need of physical wires.

• In 2019, three researchers won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for the development of lithium-ion batteries, paving the way for smartphones and a fossil fuel-free society.

• Global lithium production surpassed 100,000 tonnes for the first time in 2021, quadrupling from 2010. What’s more, roughly 90 per cent of it came from just three countries. Australia alone produces 52 per cent of the world’s lithium, followed by Chile and China.

• Last month, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) said lithium reserves have been found for the first time in India in Jammu & Kashmir.

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