High-Grade Lithium Discovered In Nigeria:
High-grade Lithium has been discovered in Nigeria.
- Greenbushes mine in Western Australia is the largest hard-rock Lithium mine in the world.
- The largest importers of lithium are South Korea, China, Japan, US and Belgium.
- Lithium is an element and in nature tends to concentrate sufficiently in the two minerals, spodumene and lepidolite.
- They are usually found in specialised rocks called rareCand greisens.
- The Geological Agency described lithium as high grade because it is found with 1-13% oxide content. Normally exploration begins at levels as low as 0.4%.
- Grade (in %) is a measure of the concentration of lithium in the minerals and or rocks that contain it.
- Therefore, the higher the grade the more the economic viability. Higher grades are very rare for metals like lithium.
- Lithium disilicate (Li2Si2O5) is a chemical compound that is a glass ceramic.
- It is widely used as a dental ceramic due to its strength, machinability and translucency.
- Lithium metal is used to make useful alloys.
- For example, with lead to make ‘white metal’ bearings for motor engines, with aluminium to make aircraft parts, and with magnesium to make Armour plates.
- Lithium is used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.
