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Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The global demand for lithium is steadily increasing, driving an increased focus on exploration efforts worldwide. Lithium, a crucial metal for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) used in renewable energy technologies, is vital in the global drive to reduce carbon emissions. India’s ambitions to become a manufacturing hub for LIBs and achieve 100% electric vehicle (EV) sales by 2030 require significant quantities of lithium. However, challenges due to limited domestic reserves within the country, prompting efforts to define new exploration targets and develop existing lithium occurrences. Recent discoveries in northern Jammu and Kashmir and southern Karnataka highlight promising lithium deposits. This study focuses on India’s lithium exploration within pegmatite belts across various cratonic blocks, identifying significant potential for lithium exploration and mining. Notably, spodumene-rich pegmatites are found in Karnataka’s Dharwar Craton, while lepidolite-rich pegmatites exist in Rajasthan’s Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt and the Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh region. Regions like Bihar-Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Assam-Meghalaya also exhibit promise for lithium exploration. These findings emphasize the diverse lithological settings where lithium exploration can be strategically pursued in India. This study recommends adopting modern exploration techniques and developing cost-effective extraction technologies to advance India’s lithium exploration efforts. These initiatives are crucial in meeting the escalating demand for lithium and advancing India’s clean energy objectives in the transition to renewable energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium (Li) exploitation promotes socioeconomic advances but may result in harmful environmental impacts. Thus, species selection for recovering environments degraded by Li mining is essential. We investigated the tolerance and early growth of four tree species to Li ore tailings (LOT), Enterolobium contortisiliquum and Handroanthus impetiginosus with wide geographic distribution and Hymenaea courbaril and H. stigonocarpa with restricted geographic distribution. The plants grew in LOT and soil for 255 days to evaluate photosynthesis, growth, and mineral nutrition. LOT negatively affected species growth, reducing the length of stems, roots, and biomass through structural and nutritional impoverishment. LOT favored the accumulation of Mg and decreased the absorption of K. The species presented a reduction in potential quantum efficiency and the chlorophyll index (b and total). E. contortisiliquum was the least tolerant species to LOT, and H. courbaril and H. stigonocarpa maintained their mass production in LOT, indicating greater tolerance to tailings. Furthermore, H. courbaril presented a translocation factor > 1 for Li and Mn, indicating the potential for phytoextraction of these metals. Our results offer first-time insights into the impacts of LOT on the early development of tree species with different geographic distribution ranges. This study may help in the tree species selection with a phytoremediation role, aiming at the recovery of areas affected by Li's mining activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores Argentina's multi-level policy mix aimed at advancing productive and technological capabilities within the lithium mining and lithium-ion battery value chains, crucial for the energy transition. Through a case-study analysis of federal policies as well those implemented by the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta, the research underscores the challenges faced by sub-national lithium-rich regions in capitalizing on the energy transition. Emphasizing the necessity of strategic vision, the findings highlight the importance of coordinated efforts across government levels, knowledge-based collaboration, supply and demand policy alignment, and ample resource support. The study advocates for a multi-level governance structure to effectively coordinate activities between and among government levels resource-rich regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Mining Magazine is the property of China Mining Magazine Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This document discusses the formation and destruction of stromatolites in Laguna Tebenquinche, a hypersaline lake in a hyperarid region. The presence of arsenic in the lake has led to damage to the microbial mats that form the stromatolites. The document also includes an appendix about a lithium mine. Additionally, the document includes a section from Albemarle, a company committed to building a resilient world and outlines their values of care, curiosity, collaboration, humility, accountability, and integrity. The document concludes with a list of phrases that highlight the company's purpose and values. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the adverse impacts of lithium mining on Indigenous communities in Argentina, particularly those in the Jujuy province, as the global demand for lithium, driven by the electric vehicle industry, grows. It highlights how the rapid expansion of lithium mining has led to significant ecological damage, including droughts and soil contamination, which disproportionately affects the local Indigenous peoples' lands and resources.

The EU has recently taken important climate action, notably through the launching of the European Green Deal. However, EU action has been criticized for its potential to generate a heavy increase in mining of 'critical minerals' necessary for renewables technologies, and so create green sacrifice zones both overseas and within Europe. We explore the politics of green sacrifice making through an analysis of green governance practices and opposition to them in a case of a lithium mining conflict in rural northern Portugal. We find that institutional rearrangements attempt to reconfigure lithium mining as a force for sustainability in ways that enable capital accumulation. Such reconfigurations clash with concerns about maintaining a meaningful life in localities where mining would take place, as well as alternative definitions of the logic of the circular economy and of what the proper scales of decision-making for marginalized territories should be. Government and corporate action attempt to resolve these clashes by promoting a discourse of 'responsibility', which assigns public institutions the role of convincing communities to accept 'green' mining; to corporations the role of exercising corporate social responsibility; and to affected populations the role of subjects whose political action should conform to their consumption habits and help deliver a distinctive 'European way' of being responsible in a warming world. We conclude that green sacrifice is essential for maintaining economic growth and a liberal order of governance, delivered through a biopolitics of inclusion that exists side-by-side with attempts at self-constitution. We highlight a contradiction between what such praxis tries to achieve and ways in which some critical constituencies seek to address democracy challenges of just transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forward osmosis (FO) using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as the draw solution (DS) was used in liquid mining of lithium from a synthesized brine, which was used as the feed solution (FS). Two DESs (choline chloride: 2 ethylene glycol and choline chloride: 2 levulinic acid) were studied as the DS. The water flux, reverse solute flux, final lithium concentration, and physical properties of commercially available cellulose triacetate membranes were studied experimentally. The performance of the DESs as DS in FO was compared to aqueous inorganic solutions at various concentration levels. Among all the DSs studied, choline chloride: 2 ethylene glycol (ChCl: 2 EG) resulted in the highest water flux (18.25 L m−2 h−1), upgrading the concentration of lithium by up to 3.68 times. In terms of reverse solute flux, the DESs showed lower values compared to the aqueous inorganic DSs tested when the active layer of the membrane was facing the FS. The use of DESs was also found to improve the membrane hydrophilicity and roughness. Freeze concentration (FC) was subsequently used to separate and recover the water that permeated into the DS and reconcentrate the latter for reuse in FO. This work highlights the potential sustainability benefits of the use of FO in lithium extraction, as the integration of FO with green DESs offers a promising liquid mining solution to meet the increasing demand for lithium while mitigating the environmental concerns associated with its extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium mining is a rising sector of the world's mining industry, and it is strongly tied to various sustainability issues. The mission statements of selected lithium mining corporations are analyzed qualitatively, quantitatively, and semiquantitatively to reveal their top strategic priorities, which determine corporate policy in this sector. It is established that these statements focus most commonly on philosophy, product, and technology. Two thirds of the considered corporations pay attention to sustainability. Although nine-related themes are identified, the most common from them is general sustainability, which makes sustainability-related notions sounding too vague. Attributing these themes to major categories permits to realize that social sustainability is significantly more important to the considered corporations than environmental sustainability, and various important issues (e.g., recycling) are not addressed. Relatively to the other top strategic priorities, sustainability is often considered marginally, and the only two corporations boast sustainability-focused mission statements. Generally, the corporate policy in lithium mining demonstrates attention to sustainability issues, but it needs various improvements in this aspect. It is established that this policy concerns more than a half of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The present study contributes to answering a major research question about the readiness of modern corporations to put some higher purposes on their strategic agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Mining Magazine is the property of China Mining Magazine Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lithium mining has become a controversial issue in the transition to green technologies due to the intervention in natural basins that impact the native flora and fauna in these environments. Large resources of this element are concentrated in Andean salt flats in South America, where extraction is much easier than in other geological configurations. The Pozuelos highland salt flat, located in northern Argentina (Salta's Province), was chosen for this study due to the presence of different evaporitic crusts and its proven economic potential in lithium-rich brines. A comprehensive analysis of a 5.5-year-long time series of its microwave backscatter with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images yielded significant insights into the dynamics of their crusts. During a field campaign conducted near the acquisition of three SAR images (Sentinel-1, ALOS-2/PALSAR-2, and SAOCOM-1), field measurements were collected for computational modeling of the SAR response. The temporal backscattering coefficients for the crusts in the salt flat are directly linked to rainfall events, where changes in surface roughness, soil moisture, and water table depth represent the most critical variables. Field parameters were employed to model the backscattering response of the salt flat using the Small Slope Approximation (SSA) model. Salt concentration of the subsurface brine and the water table depth over the slightly to moderately roughed crusts were quantitatively derived from Bayesian inference of the ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 and SAOCOM-1 SAR backscattering coefficient data. The results demonstrated the potential for subsurface estimation with L-band dual-polarization images, constrained to crusts compatible with the feasibility range of the layered model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium mining driven by the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries, has environmental consequences linked to soil and water pollution. Nevertheless, research on the environmental impacts of lithium extraction still needs to be improved, highlighting the imperative for additional research. The article addresses the potential impact of the C57 lithiniferous feldspar mine on water quality, specifically focusing on surface, groundwater and spring water samples collected at the mining site and surrounding area in Gonçalo (Guarda, Portugal). The objective is to evaluate the environmental consequences of mining activities, with particular emphasis on mineral leaching. This study aims to evaluate the water quality around the C57 mine and the potential environmental impacts of mining operations. Water samples were collected from different sources, such as surface, underground, and spring waters, and chemical analyses were carried out to determine concentrations of different parameters, which were later compared with national and international reference guidelines. In addition to analysing the water samples, weathering tests were carried out using the Soxhlet extractor method to simulate the leaching of minerals over a shorter period (about 125 days). The concentrations of the analysed elements by atomic absorption spectroscopy (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the weathering solutions were generally low and decreased throughout the testing period, with significant concentrations of aluminium and chromium exceed Canadian environmental quality guidelines for surface waters. The detected lithium concentrations are quite different, ranging from 8.7 to 19.8 μg/L in surface waters, from 6.9 to 74.1 μg/L in groundwater, and from 25.6 to 35.4 μg/L in spring waters, but are all below the US EPA (2021) recommendations threshold of 0.7 mg/L. Based on the findings, the article concludes that there is currently no clear evidence to indicate the environmental impact of mining activities on water quality in the analysed samples. However, weathering tests suggest potential long-term implications regarding the leaching of specific chemical elements, particularly aluminium and chromium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial from the journal CounterText. It mentions that three articles in this issue are from a symposium on the subject of Sense / The Document. The articles discuss various topics such as the work of Jon Fosse, the readability of the sensorial and its representations, sensory deprivation in J.G. Ballard's texts, and Peter Ackroyd's revisitation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The editorial also includes an interview with John Schad, who discusses the concept of "post-criticism" and the interplay between fiction and criticism. Additionally, there are pieces of creative criticism that blend personal narrative with literary analysis, exploring themes of detachment, identity, and the search for meaning. The editorial emphasizes the journal's commitment to exploring new modes of critical engagement and the dynamic nature of reading. [Extracted from the article]

The aquatic Andean frogs of genus Telmatobius are one of the most threatened amphibian taxa, with many species having suffered drastic declines and even possible extinction. The Laguna de los Pozuelos' rusted frog Telmatobius rubigo is a fully aquatic species that inhabits lotic systems in the Argentinean vertex of the Lithium Triangle of South America.This study estimated the environmental suitability of an area and geographical distribution of T. rubigo through an ecological niche model. This study also aimed to assess the possible extent of impacts related to mining operations on this threatened species.The ecological niche model of T. rubigo was obtained using specific freshwater habitat variables and the MaxEnt algorithm. The possible extent of impacts related to mining operations was evaluated by overlaying the mining tenure and the estimated distribution of T. rubigo resulting from the model.According to the ecological niche models, T. rubigo could occupy 2,001 km2 in four Argentine basins and three hydrographical units of southern Bolivia and is unlikely to occur in northern Chile. Five environmental variables had the highest contribution to the best selected model: shrub coverture, soil pH, soil organic carbon, and two variables related to the upstream air temperature. The suitable area for T. rubigo overlaps with mining operations by 61.8%.We advise the local communities, governmental environmental agencies, mining companies, and environmental assessors to consider the presence of threatened Telmatobius species in areas subject to mining to protect them and their environment. We encourage incorporating the aquatic Andean frogs as key species into management, environmental monitoring, and remediation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate the adverse effects of fine-grained lithium mica tailings and other solid wastes generated from the extraction of lithium ore mining, as well as the limitations of traditional cement-based binders for lithium mica fine tailings, this study explores the feasibility of using a binder composed of ordinary Portland cement, lithium slag, fly ash, and desulfurization gypsum to stabilize lithium fine tailings into cemented lithium tailings backfill. Compared with traditional cementitious binders, an extensive array of experiments and analyses were conducted on binders formed by various material proportion combinations, employing uniaxial compressive strength tests, microstructural morphology, grayscale analyses, and flowability tests. The results show the following: (1) In this study, an LSB binder exhibiting superior mechanical properties compared to traditional cementitious binders was identified, with an optimal OPC:LS:FA:DG ratio of 2:1:1:1. (2) In the context of cemented lithium mica fine tailings, the LSB-CLTB material exhibits higher unconfined compressive strength and lower self-weight compared to OPC-CLTB materials. At a binder content of 10 wt%, the UCS values achieved by the LSB-CLTB material at curing periods of 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days are 0.97 MPa, 1.52 MPa, and 2.1 MPa, respectively, representing increases of 40.6%, 34.5%, and 44.8% over the compressive strength of OPC-based materials under the same conditions. (3) The LSB binder not only exhibits enhanced pozzolanic reactivity but also facilitates the infilling of detrimental pores through its inherent particle size and the formation of AFt and C-(A)-S-H gels via hydration reactions, thereby effectively improving the compressive strength performance of fine-grained tailings backfill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the People's Republic of China currently secures much of its lithium from countries such as Australia and Chile, a new prospecting boom is currently underway in eastern areas of Tibet. China's geologists have estimated that the region holds over 3.6 million tonnes of lithium, at least 85% of the country's total reserves. Both Tesla, the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, and its Chinese competitor BYD are becoming increasingly reliant on Tibet's lithium production as they expand their operations worldwide. This acceleration of lithium mining involves polluting, waste-generating and energy-intensive processing in an area known for its rich biodiversity encompassing subtropical, temperate and alpine landscapes. U.S. investor Warren Buffett's 2008 purchase of BYD shares enabled the company to exploit the Chabyer (Chinese: Zabuye) salt lake in western Tibet. The future of Elon Musk's Tesla gigafactory outside Shanghai looks increasingly dependent on access to the hard rock lithium (spodumene) deposits in mountainous eastern Tibet and its processing plants. Tibetans who express concern about the mines or protest are at risk of being killed, tortured, imprisoned and the loss of their livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article from the Wagner Journal discusses a new production of Wagner's opera "Parsifal" at the Bayreuth Festival. The production incorporates augmented reality (AR) glasses to enhance the visual experience for audience members. However, only a small percentage of the audience was able to use the glasses, and the production relied heavily on the AR content, neglecting other dramatic elements. The article criticizes the production for its superficiality and lack of engagement with the theatrical presentation. Despite these criticisms, the article acknowledges the potential of using new technology in opera and suggests that future improvements could make the AR experience more accessible and effective. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the significance of lithium extraction in South America's Lithium Triangle, focusing on the Atacama Desert in Chile. It explores the geological and geographical features of the region, highlighting its historical importance as a site of extractive activity and mining booms. It examines the desert's cultural and environmental significance and emphasizing its rich history of human settlement and sustainable human-nature relations.

The lithium‐ion battery (LIB) market is growing, driven by consumer demand and the imperative to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The socio‐environmental impacts of LIBs production are vast; thus, it is of paramount importance to acquire knowledge about the consequences of lithium metal mining on human health, farming and the overall ecosystem. The materials embedded in spent LIBs have high industrial value. To minimize environmental impacts and conserve declining natural resources, the global supply chain for the raw materials for LIBs should not rely solely on mining. Rather, manufacturers should have access to the critical materials recovered from waste, as a sustainable and reliable secondary source of valuable materials. It is also crucial to study the hazards and economic considerations associated with waste LIB management from disassembly to final recycling stage. This article evaluates and highlights various current approaches to recycling and reuse of LIBs, as well as potential future developments. The pros and cons of different technological options for recycling spent LIBs, and opportunities to use small‐scale recycling technology to overcome the associated barriers, are also discussed. This article is categorized under: Emerging Technologies > Energy StorageEmerging Technologies > MaterialsPolicy and Economics > Research and Development [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geology & Exploration is the property of Geology & Exploration Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Technology has improved society, from bridging digital divides to increasing efficiency. To power technology, energy sources were traditionally derived from diminishing and exhaustible resources like fossil fuels. The renewable energy revolution emerged to balance the global demand for technology with its impact on natural resources. Lithium is a critical, non-renewable mineral that clean technology relies on. Essentially, lithium makes renewable energy possible. As the pillar for a fossil fuel-free yet technology-driven society, it is imperative to examine the sustainability and impacts of lithium mining. This Note discusses the legal and socio-political frameworks shaping foreign direct investments in Chile's lithium mining sector. Out of these frameworks arose a complex web of mining and investment doctrine affecting the rights of Chile's indigenous people. As a global supplier of lithium, Chile's indigenous communities--in the heart of the Atacama Desert--are shouldering the burden of renewable energy. This Note explores incorporating environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") policies into Chile's foreign direct investment regime and how ESG-driven policies can mitigate the social and environmental repercussions of lithium mining on Chile's indigenous communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the increasing demand for lithium, a critical mineral used in clean energy technologies, and the challenges associated with its extraction. Traditional methods of mining lithium from hard rock or brines are energy-intensive and time-consuming. However, two new approaches have been developed to extract lithium from dilute brines more efficiently. One method uses a membrane-based device that utilizes the Sun's energy to generate pressure and separate lithium ions from other salts. The other method involves an electrochemical process that eliminates the need for evaporation and membranes. Both approaches have shown promising results in pilot-scale tests, but further optimization and consideration of environmental impact are necessary. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Geology & Exploration is the property of Geology & Exploration Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Catalana de Dret Ambiental is the property of Universitat Rovira I Virgili and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nachrichten aus der Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ecología Política is the property of Fundacio ENT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ecología Política is the property of Fundacio ENT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

While acknowledging advances in legal recognition of Indigenous rights, much of the research literature positions negotiated agreements between Indigenous peoples and corporations simply as 'neoliberal technology' that gives the appearance of Indigenous consent while allowing exploitation to continue. This analysis is flawed in considering agreements as discrete, stand‐alone phenomena. It ignores the possibility that Indigenous peoples may use agreements as part of broader strategies to achieve control over extractive industry activity and to secure a share of 'development' benefits — strategies that involve selective engagement with the state. This article supports its argument by locating an agreement between the Chilean lithium mining company, Albemarle, and the Council of Atacameño Peoples within a broad and sustained strategy by Atacameño people to address the negative impacts of mining in the Salar de Atacama, Chile, while securing its economic benefits. This strategy includes using the agreement to voice Atacameño territorial claims and environmental concerns to the state, and to insist that the state lives up to its responsibilities. The analysis leads to a fuller appreciation of the agency exercised by Indigenous peoples in dealing with the sustained expansion of extractive activity on their territories, and a more nuanced understanding of negotiated agreements between Indigenous peoples and mining corporations and between Indigenous people and the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between lithium mining and the environmental-social aspects of mining in the countries of the lithium triangle by analysing scientific research works and available statistical data, and applying economic theory to green extractivism. We investigate whether the countries of the lithium triangle meet the criteria of the theory of green extractivism. In the context of the theory of green extractivism, we include Bolivian and Argentine regions as sacrifice zones while Chile is relatively successfully building renewable energy sources. In all three countries, we detected the socio-environmental impacts of lithium mining, the most serious problem being the right to water and the threat to the poorest regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]