“The US may be on the verge of unlocking a $2.3 trillion hidden treasure trove of 'white gold' that could supercharge the nation's economy for years to come.  

A new chemical extraction process will soon allow miners to take advantage of approximately 19 million tons of lithium sitting underground in southwest Arkansas.

Called Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), officials for Standard Lithium said the technology will allow them to begin harvesting this vital resource and selling it by 2028.…”

DailyMail article:
https://mol.im/a/15513147

Thacker Pass is close to production in NV

I bought Lithium Americas stock a few years ago, they split the stock in two with Lithium Argentina

It has recently gone up with the US Dept of War investing $400 million

Yep. It'll be a huge boon for the economy of Southern Arkansas, which has been struggling lately. They were a major oil production area 50+ years ago but the oil fields had been nearly exhausted by the late 20th century, producing only a few million barrels per year nowadays compared to 40-50 million in its heyday.

Also further supports why Arkansas claims to be the only state in the union who could be totally self-sufficient in natural resources. We've got oil, gas, a whole slew of various minerals, lots of timber, lots of water, and a bunch of agriculture. Even diamonds, the only natural source in the entire country. Plus now lithium.

Diamonds and lithium? Must be some shiny, happy people in Arkansas.

Smackover has been in and out of the oil & gas trade news since before COVID and occasionally makes regular news. Some large oil & gas big players have acreage and here is Google Gemini's public available info:

I am curious as to the process of extraction.

tatortodd, good info. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
I am curious as to the process of extraction.

It's not my end of the business, but this is the video put out by the largest leaseholder in Arkansas:

^^^^

Very interesting. Thank you.