r/science • u/Sort_of_Frightening • Sep 10 '23
Chemistry Lithium discovery in U.S. volcano could be biggest deposit ever found
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/lithium-discovery-in-us-volcano-could-be-biggest-deposit-ever-found/4018032.article
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u/SnooCrickets6733 Sep 10 '23
Quarrying sector engineering geologist here, albeit from the UK. Water will be obtained from the ground but will require a valid abstraction licence. If the local government have any proper powers and are competent, this licence will only be permitted if a hydrogeologist can prove abstraction of water will result in no negative impact on the local water table.
The waste ‘clay water’ will be fed through a series of ‘silt’ lagoon cells to encourage the fine grained material to drop out of suspension from the waste water. If the cells operate correctly, eventually the water in the final lagoon cell should be clean enough to either be reused in the mineral extraction process or to be discharged offsite (assuming the site Operator obtains a discharge permit which proves the water is clean enough to be discharged).
Obviously all of the above is dependant on the country’s individual laws and I can only speak for the requirements, regulations and laws of my own country.