Cobalt, nickel and lithium are needed in electrification • International project to streamline the search
Ore geologist Joel Andersson is one of those working to solve the riddle of where we can find lithium in the Swedish bedrock. Lithium is one of the most important metals for batteries that power electric cars and other electric vehicles, making its discovery and mining critical to the ongoing green transition. This would reduce dependence on imports from regions where the mining industry often damages both the environment and the people who live there.
In Varuträsk, outside Skellefteå, there is Sweden’s only historic lithium and cesium mine. It was discovered in the 1930s and closed in 1946. Today, the mine serves as a visitor attraction, but it also provides valuable information to geologists trying to find other important metals such as cobalt, nickel and, above all, lithium.
Increased interest in metals
The increased demand for these metals, driven by the need for electrification, has led to a sharp increase in interest in such deposits.
– This is what a stone that really contains lithium looks like, explains Joel Andersson, while showing a piece of stone from the Varuträsk mine.
However, identifying and mining these metals is a long and complicated process.
– Lithium is difficult to find and that is because the ore bodies are not magnetic. The physical contrasts to the surrounding rocks are low, says Joel Andersson.
In 2023, approximately 180,000 tonnes of lithium were produced globally with Australia, China and Chile being the largest producers. Forecasts for the future indicate that production must increase sixfold until 2030 to meet demand.
International project to streamline the search
Joel Andersson is part of the large international project Exploration Information System, whose goal is to make the search for these metals more efficient. The project uses advanced technology and innovative methods to map and identify potential deposits of critical metals in the Swedish bedrock.
– The product from the project is a computer program that will make it possible for everyone to find out where lithium may be found in the future, says Joel Anderrson, ore geologist and researcher at Luleå University of Technology.
The green transition, where electrification is a key issue, requires a reliable and sustainable supply of metals such as lithium. Finding and extracting these metals in Sweden would not only contribute to the transition but also reduce dependence on imports from environmentally and socially problematic mines in other parts of the world.
– Unfortunately, we are a bit behind at the moment because there has not been enough research into these metals, says Joel Andersson.