Agree, and is based on impurity levels in brines. From my own research in general Argentinian brines seem to have lower levels of impurities than Atacama, with Bolivia not very good at all. But the offset is Atacama brines seems to have a higher lithium content. Ultimately though, agree, the lower impurities the better to work with, so yes agree some brines look the part for supply into higher end applications, so becomes a function of cost.
Anyway, probably not the place for such a debate as this is the PLS forum in any event, and it is a hrad rock deposit. But until SSBs come along, 8:1:1 NCM batteries are going to require hydroxide and at the moment good quality hard rock deposts IMO are better placed there to supply, but obviously there is a role for brines. Also when SSBs come into been, good quality brines can also supply there to.
For some brine deposits, not all brines have potash, potash credits are also a key to viability. With further R&D, I suspect better processes in brine extraction will be developed to better remove impurities, albeit for Atacama water issues per se might have a bigger bearing on growth plans there IMO.
Apologies to others, but maybe discussions on brines might be better in another forum?? For the record not invested in any brine deposits but interesting discussion, but probably not the right forum.
All IMO
Some applicabler research below on brines
Magnesium Magnesium can be a problem in brines. The best way to explain this is Bolivia has the biggest resource of lithium in the world, but it is totally, in my view, useless because it has high magnesium content. If you ever take a trip to Ulyini you'll see the biggest lithium deposit in the world literally, staring at you within the landscape just looking like small three foot pyramids scattered across the landscape everywhere. But high magnesium means it is difficult to convert to lithium carbonate let alone hydroxide, given costs involved of removing impurities. Attacama (brines), do not have the same level of magnesium, hence why they can be worked with, but obviously water access is becoming an issue there. Here is a direct quote from the article below: "Brine found in Uyuni has high levels of magnesium, which make its lithium less pure and more expensive to produce than that of neighboring salt flats in Chile and Argentina." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-12-03/bolivia-s-almost-impossible-lithium-dream https://s21.q4cdn.com/429708605/files/doc_downloads/report-for-ni-43-101-dated-december-31st-2016.pdf
Or another way to put it, high magnesium is unlikely to be suitable for some brines getting to hydroxide at a reasonable cost (or the type of lithium carbonate you need for SSBs).
Some characteristcs of brines - it is an old article
Note Mg is an impurity that needs removing in the lithium process, and in effect Salar Atacama grades 0.1840% Li or equivalent as 1840mg/l = 1840 ppm = 0.1840% Li. Convert to Li20 by multiplying by 2.153 = 0.4% Li20 (so Salar in effect have low concentrations but cost effectiveness is in low cost evaporation technique to get to carbonate (but more costlier to get to hydroxide or probably the higher end for SSBs lithium carbonate need - just a gues- see below) but project economics overall helped by potassium units there IMO as well
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