Interesting data from
http://www.thestreet.com/story/12758999/3/2013-top-8-lithium-producing-countries.html
"2014 was certainly an eventful year for the lithium space. Although Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) definitely took center stage, Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) also made headlines with its move to acquire Rockwood Holdings.
Other significant events included FMC's (NYSE:FMC) announcement that it would raise prices for several of its lithium products and RB Energy's (TSX:RBI) closure of its Quebec lithium plant following its failure to secure additional funding.
Overall, given the growing importance of energy metals and lithium-ion batteries, securing a consistent supply of lithium is a top priority for technology companies around the world. Lithium's uses extend far beyond rechargeable batteries, but many predict that this application will dominate demand for the metal in coming years.
Here are the world's top lithium-producing countries from 2014, as reported by the US Geological Survey.
1. Australia
Mine production in 2014: 13,0 00 tons
In 2014, Australian mines delivered 13,000 tons of lithium, an increase of 300 tons from the year prior. The country is home to the Greenbushes lithium project, which is owned and operated by Talison Lithium, a subsidiary of privately held Tianqi Group. Greenbushes is the world's largest known single lithium reserve, and has been operational for over 25 years. The location is a boon to lithium producers, as it provides relatively easy access for Asian electronics companies, which are the world's top lithium consumers.
2. Chile
Mine production in 2014 : 12,900 tons
Chile provided the second-highest amount of lithium last year, and could be poised to take back its position as number-one producer in the future. Overall, Chilean mines feature the largest confirmed lithium reserves in the world, with over 7,500,000 tons of lithium. By that estimate, the country hosts roughly five times more lithium than Australia, which features the second-largest reserves.
In particular, the Atacama salt flat is the most significant source of Chile's massive lithium production, and BBC News reported that one project alone encompasses approximately 20 percent of the world's total lithium. While Australia extracts lithium from traditional hard-rock mines, Chile's lithium is found in brines below the surface of salt flats. These brines are collected and treated in order to separate the lithium from wastewater.
The region is extremely arid, making it conducive to lithium extraction via evaporation ponds. However, the region recently saw the worst floods in 80 years, causing some major lithium producers to temporarily halt production.
3. China
Mine production in 2014 : 5,000 tons
China trailed the world's largest producers by a sizable margin, producing 5,000 tons of lithium during 2014. That represents a 300-ton increase from 2013. The country's massive electronics manufacturing industry means that China is also the world's largest consumer of lithium; however, China's lithium industry has yet to fully ramp up lithium extraction. Currently, the majority of Chinese lithium comes from the Chang Tang plain in Western Tibet, according to China Dialog.
That said, the country is rushing to develop its lithium production capacity, and has plenty of room to grow. The US Geological Survey pegs the country's lithium reserves at 3,500,000 tons.
4. Argentina
Mine production in 2014 : 2,900 tons
Argentina increased its lithium production by 400 tons and extracted 2,900 tons of the metal in 2014. Bolivia, Argentina and Chile comprise the "lithium triangle," and Argentina benefits from the same geological conditions that created the lithium-rich salt flats that fuel Chilean lithium production.
The most important salt flat in Argentina is the Salar del Hombre Muerto. While the high lithium content of this area is well documented, projects are still in development. As the country's production capacity increases, Argentina could grow into one of the world's top-three lithium producers.
5. Zimbabwe
Mine production in 2014 : 1000 tons
Zimbabwe's lithium output held steady from 2013, with the country putting out 1,000 tons of the metal last year. Privately held Bikita Minerals controls nearly all of the country's lithium mining, and announced expansion plans in the summer of 2014, according to the Zimbabwe Mail.
6. Portugal
Mine production in 2014 : 570 tons
While Portugal put out significantly less lithium than the other countries on this list, it remains a major player in the lithium industry. Overall, the country produced 570 tons of lithium last year.
The majority of the country's known lithium stores are centrally located in the Goncalo aplite-pegmatite field. There are other areas of the country that may contain large amounts of lithium, but further exploration will be required to determine whether these deposits could be developed economically.
7. Brazil
Mine production in 2014: 400 tons
Similarly, Brazil contributed 400 tons of lithium to global output in both 2013 and 2014. The country has deposits of the mineral in a few northern areas, including Minas Gerais and Ceara, but Brazil's known lithium reserves remain relatively small.
8. United States
Mine production in 2014 : undisclosed
Rounding out the top lithium producers for 2014 was the United States. The US is home to a single lithium mine controlled by Rockwood Holdings, which was acquired by Albemarle this year. The brine operation is located in Nevada, and accounts for all of the country's lithium output. The US Geological Survey does not release national production numbers to protect the company's trade secrets."
IF the resource get some interesting attention from overseas it will definitely be much more sought after than the RARE EARTH metals that seem to have evaporated as highly sought metals.
Question is who will be looking at the mega commercialization of lithium products sooner than later. CHINA? JAPAN? Korea?.......
CERTAINLY Australia and Chile are the No 1 targets.
Any ideas from someone as to how close the railway are near the projects at Tabba Tabba (75 km from Port Headland )and Pilgangoora Project (100km)?