lithium mining in Australia

The Greenbushes mine in the southwest of Western Australia is Australia's oldest and biggest lithium mine. It was opened in 1984 by Greenbushes Tin, which had discovered major lithium deposits at the site four years previously while exploring for tantalum. The mine was purchased by Talison Minerals in 2007.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Sean |date=2018-09-03 |title=Tiny WA town ground zero for global energy revolution |url=https://thewest.com.au/business/mining/tiny-wa-town-of-greenbushes-is-ground-zero-for-global-lithium-energy-revolution-ng-b88932998z |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=The West Australian |language=en}}

In the year to July 2022, Greenbushes produced {{convert|1.13|e6ST|e6t e9lb|order=out|abbr=off}} of spodumene concentrate.{{Cite web |title=Lithium Mining Market by Reserves and Production, Assets and Projects, Demand Drivers, Key Players and Forecast, 2022-2030 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lithium-mining-market-reserves-production-190100691.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}

The Mount Marion mine is an open-pit mine in Western Australia near Kalgoorlie. It was originally developed by a joint venture between Mineral Resources and Neometals and became operational in 2017. Ganfeng Lithium purchased Neometals' stake in 2018. The mine is today co-owned equally by Mineral Resources and Ganfeng.{{Cite web |date=April 2021 |title=Mount Marion Lithium Project |url=https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/mount-marion-lithium-project/ |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=Mining Technology |language=en-US}}

Mount Marion contains the world's second-biggest high-grade lithium mineral resources, with an estimated {{convert|71|e6t|e9lb|abbr=off}} of spodumene.

Pilbara Minerals produces out of its Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in Western Australia's Pilbara region.{{Cite web|url=https://newswire.iguana2.com/af5f4d73c1a54a33/pls.asx/6A903404/PLS_2018_Annual_Report|title=Pilbara Minerals, annual report 2018.|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} The site is located {{convert|120|km}} from Port Hedland. By 2018, the company had "attracted a group of high quality, experience global offtake partners including Gangfeng Lithium, General Lithium, Great Wall Motor Company and POSCO" as potential customers of its Pilgangoora project and was exploring options to scale the project.{{update after|2022|11|22}}

The Pilgangoora mine was owned by Altura Mining until 2021, when the company went bankrupt. Its assets were purchased by Pilbara Minerals for {{AUDConvert|201|m|year=|r=0}}.{{Cite web |last=Ballard |first=Henry |date=2021-04-19 |title=Altura acquisition shows promise for Pilbara Minerals |url=https://www.australianmining.com.au/altura-shows-plenty-of-promise-for-pilbara/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Australian Mining |language=en-AU}}

Pilbara Minerals commenced construction of its Pilgangoora project in January 2017 which was completed in late July 2018, producing its first lithium concentrate one month later.{{Cite web |title=Our Business {{!}} Pilbara Minerals |url=http://www.pilbaraminerals.com.au/site/our-business/pilgangoora-lithium-tantalum-project |access-date=2019-05-11 |website=www.pilbaraminerals.com.au}} Pilbara Minerals delivered {{convert|111,199|t|e6lb|abbr=off|adj=pre|dry}} to date{{when|date=April 2023}} for 2019 financial year with forecasted production for its March quarter between {{convert|47,000|and|52,000|t|e6lb|abbr=off|adj=pre|dry}}.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Pilbara minerals quarterly report |url=https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20190328/pdf/443v7mrkb63p2p.pdf |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=}} On 28 March 2019 Pilbara announced it will commence a partnering process to support its expansion of the Pilgangoora project.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Pilbara minerals expansion |url=https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20190328/pdf/443v7rpnbz3v90.pdf |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=}}

File:Ravensthorpe location map in Western Australia.PNG is located {{convert|541|km}} east-southeast of Perth and {{convert|50|km}} north-northwest of Hopetoun.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whereis.com/wa/ravensthorpe-6346|title=Map of Ravensthorpe, WA 6346 {{!}} Whereis®|website=www.whereis.com|access-date=2019-05-17}}]]

The Mt Cattlin mine is an open-pit mine near Ravensthorpe, Western Australia. It was developed by Galaxy Resources (now Allkem) and opened in 2010. The site contains an estimated {{convert|8.2|e6t|e9lb|abbr=off}} of lithium reserves with a lithium oxide equivalent content of 1.23%. In 2019, the mine produced {{convert|192,000|t|e6lb|abbr=off|adj=pre|dry}} of spodumene.{{Cite web |title=Mount Cattlin Lithium Project, Western Australia, Australia |url=https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/mount-cattlin-lithium-project/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |language=en-US}} Mining was temporarily suspended there in 2013 due to a drop in lithium prices, but was restarted in 2016.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-21 |title=Mt Cattlin Spodumene Project |url=https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/mt-cattlin-spodumene-project/ |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=Mining Technology |language=en-US}}

Processed ore is shipped out via the port of Esperance around {{convert|200|km}} east of the mine.

The Wodgina lithium mine in Western Australia is operated by a joint venture between Albemarle and Mineral Resources. It has a theoretical annual production capacity of {{convert|750,000|t|e9lb|abbr=off}}. The site was inactive from 2019–2021, as low lithium prices made its operation unprofitable.{{Cite web |last=Ballard |first=Henry |date=2021-10-25 |title=MinRes, Albemarle to restart Wodgina as lithium lifts |url=https://www.australianmining.com.au/minres-albemarle-to-restart-wodgina-as-lithium-lifts/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Australian Mining |language=en-AU}}

Historically, Wodgina was primarily an iron mine. Iron extraction there ceased in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Beyer |first=Mark |date=2018-11-19 |title=Wodgina shows Pilbara mining diversity |url=https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Wodgina-shows-Pilbara-mining-diversity |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Business News |language=en}}

The Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory is the only Australian lithium mine outside of Western Australia. It opened in 2022 and is operated by Core Lithium.{{cite news |last1=Perera |first1=Alicia |last2=Thompson |first2=Jessie |date=10 October 2022 |title=Core Lithium opens the Northern Territory's first lithium mine amid surging demand for electric vehicles |work=ABC Australia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-11/core-lithium-opens-finniss-mine-near-darwin-nt-electric-vehicles/101518998 |access-date=15 October 2022}} The project will unfold in stages,{{when? |date=April 2025}} initially with open-pit mining near Grants and Hang Gong, as well as underground mining at the Grants, BP33, and Carlton prospects.{{cite news |title=Finniss Lithium Project, Northern Territory, Australia |url=https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/finniss-lithium-project/ |work=Mining Technology |date=13 January 2022 |access-date=13 October 2022 }} The mine is estimated to contain {{convert|31|e6t|e9lb|abbr=off}} of lithium-containing minerals, with a lithium oxide-equivalent content of 1.3%.{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Tom |date=2023-04-18 |title=Core Lithium boosts Finniss resource by 60% |url=https://www.australianresourcesandinvestment.com.au/2023/04/18/core-lithium-boosts-finniss-resource-by-more-than-60/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Australian Resources & Investment |language=en-US}} During construction, the project was given {{gloss |Major Project Status}} by the Australian government, which meant it was eligible for a streamlined federal approval process and help in dealing with local and state approval processes.{{cite news |title=Australia grants MPS for Core Lithium's Finniss lithium project |url=https://www.miningmetalnews.com/20210317/1786/australia-grants-mps-core-lithiums-finniss-lithium-project |last=Matthis|first=Simon |work=MiningMetalNews |date=17 March 2021 |access-date=13 October 2022 }} Battery-grade lithium hydroxide was produced as part of the test works on spodumene mineral concentrate samples from the project in April 2021. Tesla contracted{{when? |date=April 2025}} for {{convert|110,000|t|e6lb|abbr=off}} of spodumene concentrate over four years from the Finniss lithium mine.{{cite news |title=NT opens first lithium mine, supplying Tesla |url=https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2022/10/13/nt-opens-first-lithium-mine-supplying-tesla/ |work=PV Magazine |date=13 October 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022 }}

The Mount Holland mine is an open-pit mine situated {{convert|105|km}} southeast of Southern Cross. Developed by Covalent Lithium (a joint venture between the Chilean company Sociedad Química y Minera and the Australian company Wesfarmers), with operations commencing in late 2023.{{cite web |title=Mine and concentrator |url=https://www.covalentlithium.com/mine-and-concentrator |website=Covalent Lithium |access-date=10 December 2023}} The project plans to produce {{convert|380,000|t|e6lb|abbr=off}} of spodumene concentrate to a refinery in Kwinana. The refinery is planned to produce {{convert|50,000|t|e6lb|abbr=off}} of lithium hydroxide a year{{when? |date=April 2025}} with a sodium sulfate by-product.{{cite web |title=Refinery |url=https://www.covalentlithium.com/refinery |website=Covalent Lithium |access-date=10 December 2023}}

Similar to Wodgina, the location was previously used for gold mining as the Bounty gold mine from 1989 to 2001, with much of the infrastructure removed prior to construction.

Many Australian lithium producers also operate outside of Australia. For instance, Allkem, in addition to operating the Mt Cattlin mine, sources much of its lithium from various Argentinian sites and James Bay, Canada.{{Cite news |last=Sun |first=Kerry |date=2022-04-05 |title=Understanding the Allkem lithium growth story |work=marketindex.com.au |url=https://www.marketindex.com.au/news/understanding-the-allkem-lithium-growth-story |access-date=2023-04-23}}

File:Australian lithium exports.svg

In financial year 2021-2022, Australia produced {{convert|330,000|t|e6lb|abbr=off}} of lithium carbonate equivalent.{{Cite web |date=March 2023 |editor-last=Thurtell |editor-first=David |title=Resources and Energy Quarterly: March 2023 |url=https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-04/resources-and-energy-quarterly-march-2023.pdf |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources}} For comparison, Chile, the world's second biggest lithium producer, produced {{convert|45,000|t|e6lb|abbr=off}} in 2018. China, the third-biggest, produced {{convert|38,000|t|e6lb|abbr=off}}.{{Cite web |last=Jaskula |first=Brian |date=August 2022 |title=2018 Minerals Yearbook: Lithium |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/myb/vol1/2018/myb1-2018-lithium.pdf |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=United States Geological Survey}} As of 2023, 53% of the world's annual lithium supply is mined in Australia,{{Cite news |last=Frost |first=Natasha |date=2023-05-23 |title=Australia Tries to Break Its Dependence on China for Lithium Mining |language=en |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/business/australia-lithium-refining.html |access-date=2023-08-04}} and 96% of it is exported to China for processing.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-08 |title=Australia's spodumene exports to China rise in 1H 2022 {{!}} Argus Media |url=https://www.argusmedia.com/en//news/2358823-australias-spodumene-exports-to-china-rise-in-1h-2022 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Argus Media |language=en}}

Worldwide production increased by 74 percent from 2016 to 2017, predominantly due to a "threefold increase in Australia's spodumene production".{{Cite web|url=https://prd-wret.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/atoms/files/mcs-2019-lithi.pdf|title=United States Global Survey, 2019|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118000126/https://prd-wret.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/atoms/files/mcs-2019-lithi.pdf|archive-date=18 January 2021|access-date=|url-status=dead}} In 2017 Australia overtook Chile as the largest producer of lithium.{{Cite news |title=Argentina could help the world by becoming a big lithium exporter |date=2022-11-15 |access-date=2023-04-21 |newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/11/15/argentina-could-help-the-world-by-becoming-a-big-lithium-exporter}}

According to the United States Geological Survey,{{cite web|url=https://prd-wret.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/atoms/files/mcs-2019-lithi.pdf|title=United States Geological Survey, 2019|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118000126/https://prd-wret.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/atoms/files/mcs-2019-lithi.pdf|archive-date=18 January 2021|access-date=|url-status=dead}}

{{blockquote |text=five spodumene operations in Australia and two brine operations each in Argentina and Chile accounted for the majority of world lithium production [...]. The leading spodumene operation in Australia increased its spodumene concentrate production by about 40 percent in 2018 and remained the world's largest lithium producer [...].}}

{{See also|Environmental effects of mining}}

Like all mines, lithium mines significantly impact their surrounding environments. Most lithium mines in Australia are surface mines.{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-09-07 |title=World's ten largest lithium mines in 2020 |url=https://www.mining-technology.com/marketdata/ten-largest-lithiums-mines-2020-2/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Mining Technology |language=en-US}} The most immediate impact of these mines is the removal of all plants, soil and wildlife on the site of the mine. The mining process generates inhalable and respirable dust particles.{{cite web |url=https://globalroadtechnology.com/lithium-mining-australia-history-top-locations-companies/ |title=Lithium mining in Australia – history, top locations and companies |last=Adams |first=Troy |date=15 June 2022 |website=Global Road Technology |publisher=Global Road Technology International Holdings |access-date=1 October 2023 }}

Australian lithium extraction has a higher carbon footprint than lithium mining elsewhere. This is primarily because Australian lithium mines use extremely carbon-intensive power sources, especially diesel, for extraction and processing, and because most of it is subsequently shipped to China for further processing, which also uses highly carbon-intensive fuels.{{Cite journal |last1=Chordia |first1=Mudit |last2=Wickerts |first2=Sanna |last3=Nordelöf |first3=Anders |last4=Arvidsson |first4=Rickard |date=December 2022 |title=Life cycle environmental impacts of current and future battery-grade lithium supply from brine and spodumene |journal=Resources, Conservation and Recycling |language=en |volume=187 |pages=106634 |doi=10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106634|doi-access=free |bibcode=2022RCR...18706634C }}

File:RBA2.jpg{{relevance inline |reason=Why is this picture of a sign above an entry to the reserve bank relevant in this article about mining? |date=May 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rba.gov.au/contact/|title=Reserve Bank of Australia|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}]]

Lithium may be extracted either by mining or from lithium brines.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visualcapitalist.com/a-cost-comparison-lithium-brine-vs-hard-rock-exploration/|title=A Cost Comparison: Lithium Brine vs. Hard Rock Exploration|last=Desjardins|first=Jeff|date=2015-06-02|website=Visual Capitalist|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}} More capital outlay is needed for hard-rock spodumene mining than for lithium brines. This plays a role when identifying whether a project is worth an investment or conversely, if it should be abandoned.{{Cite web|url=https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/costofcapital.asp|title=Cost of Capital: What You Need to Know|last=Kenton|first=Will|website=Investopedia|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mining.com/web/infographic-a-cost-comparison-lithium-brine-vs-hard-rock-exploration/|title=INFOGRAPHIC: A cost comparison - lithium brine vs. hard rock exploration|date=2015-06-02|website=MINING.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-11}}

Market demand is another major factor.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/big-question-remains-will-lithium-supply-meet-its-demand-856697554.html|title=Big Question Remains: Will Lithium Supply Meet Its Demand|last=FinancialNewsMedia.com|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}} The rapid growth and expansion of the electric vehicle sector has caused a surge in demand for lithium for lithium-ion batteries.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mining.com/battery-capacity-electric-cars-nearly-double-last-year/|title=Lithium price: Battery capacity of electric cars doubles from last year|date=2019-05-06|website=MINING.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}} This generates higher revenues{{Cite web|url=https://www.fool.com.au/2018/11/05/why-i-think-these-lithium-miners-offer-great-growth-potential-for-investors/|title=Why I think these lithium miners offer great growth potential for investors|last1=November 5|first1=Rhys Brock {{!}}|last2=PLS|first2=2018 {{!}} More on: GXY MIN ORE|date=2018-11-05|website=Motley Fool Australia|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-05-16}} for existing and new market entrants:{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/lithium-export-boom-might-not-be-felt-for-five-years-20190405-p51bd4.html|title=Lithium export boom might not be felt for five years|last=Hastie|first=Hamish|date=2019-04-07|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}

{{blockquote |text=Pilbara Minerals managing director and chief executive Ken Brinsden said the demand for higher quality battery materials put WA in the drivers seat [...].}}

The rising demand in the market for lithium "shows no signs of slowing"{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-06/lithium-booms-shows-no-sign-of-slowing-as-new-refinery-announced/9840914|title=WA lithium booms from one mine to seven in two years|last1=Lucas|first1=Jarrod|last2=Daly|first2=Jon|date=2018-06-06|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-05-15}} in Australia, which hosts the "highest economic concentrations of lithium via several hard rock deposits".{{Cite web|url=http://www.goldendragoncapital.com/lithium-reserves-country/|title=Lithium Reserves by Country|website=Golden Dragon Capital|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}} However, as reported by the Australian Financial Review, as supply of lithium grows, the value of existing companies falls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/business/mining/expansion-talk-wipes-billions-off-lithium-miners-20180119-h0kqqo |title=Expansion talk wipes billions off lithium miners |date=2018-01-18 |newspaper=Australian Financial Review |first=Peter |last=Ker |language=en|access-date=2019-05-11}} Supply continues to grow as a royal settlement struck by Chilean producer SQM gives the company permission over the next 7 years to more than triple its production, "but federal forecasts in the resources and energy quarterly found while WA will be pulling out a record 419,000 tonnes of lithium ore spodumene from the ground, it won’t reap the same high prices the industry has experienced."

File:Curtin Building 216 Innovation.jpg

The Australian Government is encouraging investment in the lithium industry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-10/new-$135m-lithium-battery-research-centre-for-wa/10990222|title=Battery research centre puts Australia at 'cutting edge' of global lithium industry|last=Lynch|first=Jacqueline|date=2019-04-10|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-05-16}} {{As of |2019|04|10}}, the federal and state governments along with industry had agreed to fund a new modern national lithium research centre valued at {{AUD|135{{nbsp}}million|link=yes}} which "will operate out of Curtin University in Perth" {{incomprehensible span |date=May 2025 |reason=Why are there two numbers? |text=for {{AUD|53{{nbsp}}million}}.}} The facility aims to make{{when? |date=May 2025}} Western Australia a hub for battery-making and research surrounding lithium battery manufacturing.

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{{World topic|prefix=Lithium mining in|title=Lithium mining by country|noredlinks=yes}}

Category:Mining in Australia by mineral

Category:Lithium mining