The US just found millions of tons of lithium in Appalachia, enough for 500 billion cellphones and experts say it could power the next century of American tech and weaken China's grip on batteries

Date:
Sun, 03 May 2026 18:40:00 +0000

Description:
The U.S. finds huge lithium reserves in Appalachia that could supply billions of phones and reduce America's reliance on China.

FULL STORY
Lithium buried beneath parts of the Appalachian
region could supply the United States with hundreds of years of material essential for batteries, electronics, and large-scale energy storage systems.

New estimates from the United States Geological Survey point to roughly 2.3 million metric tons of lithium oxide located in pegmatite formations spread across areas of the eastern United States. Much of the material is believed
to sit beneath sections of the Carolinas, while additional deposits are estimated to lie under parts of western Maine and New Hampshire.

Appalachian lithium resources concentrated inside pegmatites: Reporting on the news, Fortune says the scale is large enough to replace about 328 years of US lithium imports based on recent demand levels, a number that shows just how dependent the country has become on foreign sources for key battery
materials.

The deposits could support production of about 500 billion cellphones, along with billions of laptops and tablets, or enough batteries to power roughly
130 million electric vehicles if the material can be recovered at commercial scale.

Much of the discussion around lithium now centers on supply chains,
especially since China dominates the production of finished lithium-ion batteries used in devices ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles and backup systems in data centers.

Demand continues rising as manufacturers move away from older battery types, while lithium-ion technology remains widely used in systems that require fast charging and long operating life.

USGS says lithium resources in Appalachia are concentrated inside pegmatites, large-grained granite-like rock formations that can trap valuable elements during cooling and crystallization deep underground.

Accessing the material remains the biggest hurdle, since the United States currently produces only a small share of global lithium output despite rising domestic demand.

The country produced about 610 metric tons of lithium recently, accounting
for roughly 0.3% of worldwide production, while most refining and large-scale battery manufacturing continues to take place overseas.

In December 2025 we reported how researchers identified lithium-rich clay deposits inside the McDermitt Caldera along the Nevada-Oregon border, where geological surveys suggested between 20 million and 40 million metric tons of lithium-bearing material could exist.

Geological analysis showed that layers of volcanic ash and long-running hydrothermal activity enriched soft sediments with lithium, creating clay bands that in some cases sit close enough to the surface to allow open-pit extraction.

Industry planners continue to point out that discovery alone does not guarantee production, since refining capacity, environmental permits, and infrastructure determine how quickly resources reach the market.

Government-backed funding and private investment projects are already
underway in places such as Arkansas, where chemical extraction methods are being tested to increase domestic production capacity.

Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-us-just-found-millions-of-tons-of-lithium-in -appalachia-enough-for-500-billion-cellphones-and-experts-say-it-could-power-t he-next-century-of-american-tech-and-weaken-chinas-grip-on-batteries

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--- MultiMail/DOS
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Mike Powell wrote to All <=-

The US just found millions of tons of lithium in Appalachia, enough for 500 billion cellphones and experts say it could power the next century
of American tech and weaken China's grip on batteries

The USS Gerald Ford has reportedly left the gulf and is headed to the
eastern seaboard to effect regime change and secure the lithium
deposits for America.


... Take away the important parts
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
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The US just found millions of tons of lithium in Appalachia, enough for 500 billion cellphones and experts say it could power the next century of American tech and weaken China's grip on batteries

The USS Gerald Ford has reportedly left the gulf and is headed to the
eastern seaboard to effect regime change and secure the lithium
deposits for America.

I thought it was disabled after a kitchen fire? ;)


* SLMR 2.1a * The bold print giveth and the fine print taketh away.
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/107)

The US just found millions of tons of lithium in Appalachia, enough for
500 billion cellphones and experts say it could power the next century
of American tech and weaken China's grip on batteries

The USS Gerald Ford has reportedly left the gulf and is headed to the

> eastern seaboard to effect regime change and secure the lithium
> deposits for America.

Is this the Appalachia mountain range that is just in from the
East coast through much of the USA? I only ask because it seems
to me that area must already be about as secure for America as
anyplace could be, so I wondered if there was another one...

---
* SLMR Rob * If all is not lost then... Where IS it?
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/107)

Rob Mccart wrote to KURT WEISKE <=-

Is this the Appalachia mountain range that is just in from the
East coast through much of the USA? I only ask because it seems
to me that area must already be about as secure for America as
anyplace could be, so I wondered if there was another one...

Yes, I was making a tongue-in-cheek comment about how we effect regime
change to help the people only in countries that have raw materials we
need.



--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/700)

The US just found millions of tons of lithium in Appalachia, enough for 500 billion cellphones and experts say it could power the next century of American tech and weaken China's grip on batteries

The USS Gerald Ford has reportedly left the gulf and is headed to the

> eastern seaboard to effect regime change and secure the lithium
> deposits for America.

Is this the Appalachia mountain range that is just in from the
East coast through much of the USA? I only ask because it seems
to me that area must already be about as secure for America as
anyplace could be, so I wondered if there was another one...

I think it was a joke. :D


* SLMR 2.1a * You're so vain / I bet you think this tagline's about you
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/107)

Is this the Appalachia mountain range that is just in from the
East coast through much of the USA? I only ask because it seems
to me that area must already be about as secure for America as
anyplace could be, so I wondered if there was another one...

Yes, I was making a tongue-in-cheek comment about how we effect regime

>change to help the people only in countries that have raw materials we
>need.

Right.. sorry about that. It did sort of run through my mind that, if
we were talking about the USA, not that it was a joke, but that the
federal gov't was going to take over the area for full control of it,
as opposed to the State gov't or private enterprise...

---
* SLMR Rob * Let he who is without stones cast the first sinner
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/107)

Is this the Appalachia mountain range that is just in from the
East coast through much of the USA? I only ask because it seems
to me that area must already be about as secure for America as
anyplace could be, so I wondered if there was another one...

Yes, I was making a tongue-in-cheek comment about how we effect regime

>change to help the people only in countries that have raw materials we
>need.

Right.. sorry about that. It did sort of run through my mind that, if
we were talking about the USA, not that it was a joke, but that the federal gov't was going to take over the area for full control of it,
as opposed to the State gov't or private enterprise...

Ironically, during the most recent previous administration, there was a conspiracy theory that they, too, might do something in order to encourage
or force landowners out of that same area to take control of it. That was sparked by the government's less-than full-hearted response to devastating flooding caused by a tropical storm.

That was actually something interesting about this story... there were apparently people back a couple or so years ago that already knew there
were likely precious metals in that same area.

... Direct from the Ministry of Silly Walks
--- MultiMail/DOS
* Origin: Capitol City Hub (1:2320/105)

Right.. sorry about that. It did sort of run through my mind that, if
we were talking about the USA, not that it was a joke, but that the
federal gov't was going to take over the area for full control of it,
as opposed to the State gov't or private enterprise...

Ironically, during the most recent previous administration, there was a

>conspiracy theory that they, too, might do something in order to encourage
>or force landowners out of that same area to take control of it. That was
>sparked by the government's less-than full-hearted response to devastating
>flooding caused by a tropical storm.

A conspiracy.. so we are in the right conference.. B)

Yes, can't trust the gov't if there's money to be made or important
resources. I'm pretty sure here you don't get the mineral rights
when you buy land and, if the gov't decides they want it, they
pay you supposedly market value for your land but you can't refuse
to sell it to them..

---
* SLMR Rob * Round up the usual suspects
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/107)

Ironically, during the most recent previous administration, there was a

>conspiracy theory that they, too, might do something in order to encourage
>or force landowners out of that same area to take control of it. That was
>sparked by the government's less-than full-hearted response to devastating
>flooding caused by a tropical storm.

A conspiracy.. so we are in the right conference.. B)

Yes, can't trust the gov't if there's money to be made or important resources. I'm pretty sure here you don't get the mineral rights
when you buy land and, if the gov't decides they want it, they
pay you supposedly market value for your land but you can't refuse
to sell it to them..

Here in the USA, I am not 100% on how mineral rights work, but I do know
that someone can own them that doesn't own the land on top of them. I
found that out when I was younger and my father and grandmother were
talking about selling the mineral rights underneath of some land they
planned to keep.


* SLMR 2.1a * A preposition is what you don't end a sentence with. Um.
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/107)

Yes, can't trust the gov't if there's money to be made or important

>> resources. I'm pretty sure here you don't get the mineral rights
>> when you buy land and, if the gov't decides they want it, they
>> pay you supposedly market value for your land but you can't refuse
>> to sell it to them..

Here in the USA, I am not 100% on how mineral rights work, but I do know

>that someone can own them that doesn't own the land on top of them. I
>found that out when I was younger and my father and grandmother were
>talking about selling the mineral rights underneath of some land they
>planned to keep.


Coincidentally I was just reading a book and they were talking about
that in Wyoming where people owning farms would sell their mineral
rights, which are often picked up by huge developement companies even
when there's no reason to want them yet. It's more in case something
is found later that can be exploited. In this case there were natural
gas deposis in played out coal areas, gas that used to be almost
worthless but later became very valuable,

Normally those rights are slod for 20 or 50 or so years and they
later revert back to whoever currently owns the land, but that
means you might buy land ad find those rights may be already under
someone else's optional control, sold by the previous owners.

---
* SLMR Rob * Don't scald your tongue in another man's soup
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/107)

Hello Rob!

** On Tuesday 12.05.26 - 07:48, Rob Mccart wrote to MIKE POWELL:

... I'm pretty sure here you don't get the mineral rights
when you buy land and, if the gov't decides they want it, they
pay you supposedly market value for your land but you can't refuse
to sell it to them..

I've read/heard the opposite. Apparently there *is* a process whereby you can stake claims to mineral rights - especially under your own property - but it requires citing a key/rare precident law and application that you file with your deed. And.. it could require court appearances to defend your claim - but the process is "simple" in that you defend your claim that the precedent civil law out-rules the lessor/subsequent law.. something like that.

Most people don't bother [there is a few hundred dollars to file] cuz they assume that buying most any existing land now has already been explored/ tested for important minterals from years ago and their properties are safe from external forces exploiting the land all over again.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: My Westcoast Point (1:153/757.21)

... I'm pretty sure here you don't get the mineral rights

> when you buy land and, if the gov't decides they want it, they
> pay you supposedly market value for your land but you can't refuse
> to sell it to them..

I've read/heard the opposite. Apparently there *is* a process whereby you

>can stake claims to mineral rights - especially under your own property - but
>it requires citing a key/rare precident law and application that you file
>with your deed. And.. it could require court appearances to defend your
>claim - but the process is "simple" in that you defend your claim that the
>precedent civil law out-rules the lessor/subsequent law.. something like
>that.

Most people don't bother [there is a few hundred dollars to file] cuz they

>assume that buying most any existing land now has already been explored/
>tested for important minterals from years ago and their properties are safe
>from external forces exploiting the land all over again.

I see.. although that does sort of back up part of what I said,
that you do not automatically have the mineral rights to your
own property..

I suppose like most things in life, long before the ordinary
person finds out there is money to be made on something, some
rich person has already beat you to it. Mineral rights here
but also in things like the stock market where by the time
the ordinary small investor hears about some big change coming
that could make or cost them a lot of money, the rich people
have already taken advantage of it..

---
* SLMR Rob * Drop your carrier... We have you surrounded
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/107)

Hello Rob!

** On Tuesday 19.05.26 - 08:56, you wrote to me:

Most people don't bother [there is a few hundred dollars to file] cuz
they

assume that buying most any existing land now has already been explored/
tested for important minterals from years ago and their properties are
safe from external forces exploiting the land all over again.

I see.. although that does sort of back up part of what I said,
that you do not automatically have the mineral rights to your
own property..

It's not right. Ownership of the land *should* be for all aspects of it. The notion that you own the land, but not what is underneath it is totally artifical - and obviously designed to benefit exploiters.

But we don't even have total control of the "surface" of the land to prevent the heavy mining equipment access!


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: My Westcoast Point (1:153/757.21)

I see.. although that does sort of back up part of what I said,
that you do not automatically have the mineral rights to your
own property..

It's not right. Ownership of the land *should* be for all aspects of it.

>The notion that you own the land, but not what is underneath it is totally
>artifical - and obviously designed to benefit exploiters.

But we don't even have total control of the "surface" of the land to prevent

>the heavy mining equipment access!

No, but we all know if you have something the gov't thinks they should
control for the 'general good of the people', they will find a way to
get it. At least here they usually compensate people to some extent
rather than just seize it..

You hate that if it's your property but if one person can stop
something that will benefit the public is that such a good thing?
Highways would never get built, or pipelines, electrical grids.. etc..

---
* SLMR Rob * Now, the Australian sequel... Dances with Sheep
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/107)