Scientists discover $1,500,000,000,000 worth of white gold in Oregon

[Rimmer]

Scientists discover $1,500,000,000,000 worth of white gold in Oregon that could transform the US car industry

The McDermitt Caldera

 

By  Rebekah Jordan

A $1.5 trillion lithium deposit has been uncovered in Oregon.

The team of scientists made the discovery in a volcanic hotspot along the Oregon-Nevada border and it could be one of the largest lithium deposits ever identified in the United States. Uncovered back in 2023, the treasure trove has just recently been valued at a whopping $1.5 trillion, and it could prove totally revolutionary for America's electric vehicle industry. Although this is brilliant news for the industry, the local community have voice concerns over the discovery.

Why are lithium deposits so valuable?

Lithium is an essential component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, making it one of the most sought-after minerals globally.

With EV production and a drive for clean energy on the rise, the US is eager to reduce its reliance on foreign lithium especially as global conflict threatens key resource supply lines. According to a 2023 study published in Minerals, the McDermitt Caldera could hold between 20 and 40 million metric tonnes of lithium. Expert analysts state that if efficient extraction methods prove efficient, the US could position itself as a leading global supplier of the valuable metal. In other words, if all goes well, a discovery like this could revolutionise the future of the US battery industry.

Full story:

https://www.uniladtech.com/science/scientists-discover-mcdermitt-caldera-oregon-lithium-deposit-value-787354-20250514

 

[WDSmart]

That's bad news for Oregon's environment. 😒 

[Yellowtail]

27 minutes ago, WDSmart said:

That's bad news for Oregon's environment. 😒 

Why?

[WDSmart]

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

1 hour ago, WDSmart said:

That's bad news for Oregon's environment. 😒 

Why?

Because now, a lot of mining will take place, and mining is one of the worst destroyers of the environment.

[Yellowtail]

Just now, WDSmart said:

Because now, a lot of mining will take place, and mining is one of the worst destroyers of the environment.

How so? 

 

I thought CO2 was the primary destroyer of the planet, and if that's true, how is manufacturing cheap batteries not a good thing? 

[WDSmart]

1 minute ago, Yellowtail said:

How so? 

 

I thought CO2 was the primary destroyer of the planet, and if that's true, how is manufacturing cheap batteries not a good thing? 

All technology pollutes. Some pollute less than others, so maybe "cheap batteries" pollute less than "expensive batteries." I don't know about that. I do know that all technology pollutes, so any increase in the use of technology, like for mining or as a result of mining, is bad for the environment. 

[Yellowtail]

Just now, WDSmart said:

All technology pollutes. Some pollute less than others, so maybe "cheap batteries" pollute less than "expensive batteries." I don't know about that. I do know that all technology pollutes, so any increase in the use of technology, like for mining or as a result of mining, is bad for the environment. 

Yet here you are desecrating the environment using technology. 

 

Batteries for the rich, but not the poor then? Spoken like a true leftist. 

 

[ukrules]

If they can extract this then it's not going to be worth a fraction of what it's worth these days.

[billd766]

Good news for batteries for electric cars.

 

Pity about the cost of steel going up to make the cars, so they will be no cheaper to buy anyway.

 

Is there a nationwide network of chargers across the USA?

[Yellowtail]

17 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Good news for batteries for electric cars.

And anything else that uses a battery. 

17 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Pity about the cost of steel going up to make the cars, so they will be no cheaper to buy anyway.

A new Tesla Model X cost about $80K, and weighs about 5,200lbs, and about 1,200lbs of that is battery.

 

Right now, steel in the US is about $993/mton, or about $0.45 a pound. So, sat there is 3,000lbs of steel in a Tesla, that's $1,352. If the price of steel doubled, the price if the Tesla would go up $1,352/$80,000 or 1.6%. 

17 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Is there a nationwide network of chargers across the USA?

Were not all these chargers part of Biden's trillion-dollar "infrastructure" bill? What, none go built? Do tell. 

 

People that want EVs in the US will charge at home. 

[unblocktheplanet]

And what do you do with the enormous, heavy dead batteries. Are they recyclable or headed to the landfill?