Sondumene and Amblygonite are the main sources of lithium:

• Spodumene: lithium aluminium inosilicate:  LiAl(SiO3)2
• Amblygonite: fluorophosphate mineral:  (Li,Na)AlPO4(F,OH)

Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat exceptionally rich in lithium. This deposit contains 35% of the world’s lithium reserves, which has yet to be extracted. It is located in Bolivia. It will take around 100 years or more to extract the ore.  There are other deposits in Bolivia that could increase this figure to 50% of the world’s reserves but this figure still has to be confirmed.

In Argentina the lithium is recovered from Salt evaporation ponds in the mine called Salar del Hombre Muerto.

2009 image from NASA’s EO-1 satellite

• Lithium is usted in the aviation industry
• Used in lithium batteries: mobile phones
• Nuclear applications
• Medical use

Salar de Atacama resources: 35,5 tonnes lithium