Could Yucatán be sitting on billions worth of lithium?
The value of lithium has been increasing dramatically over the past few years, making it one of the most valuable minerals on earth. Photo: Courtesy
Yucatán may be sitting atop significant lithium deposits, according to Sen. Napoleón Gómez Urrutia.
These statements have caused speculation in Yucatán and across Mexico regarding the size of these possible deposits. But details pertaining to any actual finds have not been released.
Lithium is highly valuable due to its relative rarity and several industrial uses, including the production of heat-resistant glass and lithium-ion batteries.
The world’s appetite for lithium has increased dramatically over the past decade given the use of lithium-ion batteries in every good such as mobile phones and electric vehicles.
“If the search for lithium in Yucatán and other states proves fruitful, it would surely be a tremendous boom for Mexico’s economy,” said Gómez Urrutia.
Earlier: CFE to invest billions to improve Yucatán’s energy infrastructure
Sources of minerals — such as gold, silver, as well as hydrocarbons, and water found in Mexico — are federal property, according to Mexico’s constitution.
Mexico has a long history of corruption when it comes to the exploitation of natural resources. Because of this, there is a very real concern that any wealth created by the discovery of lithium deposits could be siphoned off by corrupt politicians and business interests.
The manufacturing processes of lithium, including the solvent and mining waste, presents significant environmental and health hazards, not least of which includes severe water pollution.
The approximate amount of lithium on earth is between 30 and 90 million tons, with the largest concentrations being found in Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer, adventure leader, and PhD candidate. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.
