Spodumene

The hard-rock lithium mineral, mined from pegmatites and reported as a percentage of Li₂O.

Definition

A lithium-bearing mineral (LiAlSi2O6) found in pegmatite deposits. Spodumene is the primary source mineral for hard rock lithium production and must be processed through chemical conversion to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate or hydroxide.

Why it matters

Spodumene projects reach production faster than brines and dominate Western supply growth. Concentrate is typically shipped at around 6% Li₂O for downstream conversion.

See also

  • Lithium Brine — Underground reservoirs of salty water with dissolved lithium compounds, typically found in salt flats (salars)…
  • Battery-Grade Lithium — Lithium chemical products (carbonate or hydroxide) that meet purity specifications required for lithium-ion ba…
  • Concentrate — The product of mineral processing that contains elevated concentrations of valuable metals. Concentrates are t…
  • Lithium Hydroxide (LiOH) — A chemical compound preferred for high-energy-density batteries, particularly in electric vehicle applications…

More geology terms

AlterationAssayBastnasiteCarlin-Type DepositCut-off GradeEpithermal DepositEpithermal Silver DepositGrade (g/t)Heavy Rare Earths (HREE)InterceptLight Rare Earths (LREE)Lithium Brine
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