LITHIUM EXPLORATION Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Economy)

Context: The Centre recently signed an agreement to acquire five lithium brine blocks for exploration and development in Argentina.

Lithium Reserves in India

• Lithium Reserves in India: A preliminary survey in Southern Karnataka's Mandya district estimated lithium reserves of 14,100 tonnes. 
• Other potential Sites: Mica belts in Rajasthan, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, pegmatite belts in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, and Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Lithium Reserves in world

• Major Global Lithium Reserves: Chile; Australia; Argentina are the top countries with Li reserves.
• Lithium Triangle: Chile, Argentina, Bolivia.
• India's Lithium Expedition: India is dependent on China for lithium imports, total imports in FY23were roughly $3 bn.

Argentina

• About: Argentina, country of South America, covering most of the southern portion of the continent. 
• Capital: Buenos Aires
• Bounded by: Chile to the south and west, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, and Brazil, Uruguay, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
• Four Major Regions: The Andes, the North, the Pampas, and Patagonia.
• Four Main Climate Types: Warm, moderate, arid, and cold.