An ancient supervolcano along the Nevada-Oregon border contains what could be the world's largest single deposit of lithium. The findings could reshape the West's supply of the critical metal -- and might even change the geopolitical game with China.
Researchers from Lithium Americas Corporation, GNS Science, and Oregon State University published their findings in the Journal for Science Advances on Aug. 31. They found the McDermitt Caldera, a caldera measuring 28 miles long and 22 miles wide, on the Nevada-Oregon border, contains around 20 to 40 million metric tons of lithium – a figure that would dwarf deposits in Australia and Chile.
Commenting on the findings is Anouk Borst, a geologist at KU Leuven University and the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium, who told Chemistry World that the McDermitt Caldera deposit "could change the dynamics of lithium globally, in terms of price, security of supply and geopolitics."
Data from the United States Geological Survey, presented by Visual Capitalist Bruno Venditti, shows the US lags behind the world in terms of lithium production.
If you can believe it, the US only has one producing lithium mine - Silver Peak - in Nevada (about halfway between Las Vegas and Carson City) - while worldwide demand is surging due to the government-forced clean energy transition. We noted in July that Exxon Mobil Corp. was in the beginning stages of possibly becoming a 'lithium kingpin.'
Thomas Benson, a geologist with Lithium Americas Corporation and co-author of the new study, expects mining operations at the McDermitt Caldera to begin in early 2026.
The McDermitt Caldera deposit is estimated to contain between 20 and 40 million metric tons of lithium, which would dwarf existing deposits in Australia and Chile. If the deposit can be mined successfully, it could make the US a major player in the global lithium market.
The discovery of the McDermitt Caldera deposit is particularly timely given the growing demand for lithium. The global transition to electric vehicles is driving up demand for the metal, and the US government has set ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions.
The development of the McDermitt Caldera deposit could help the US achieve its clean energy goals and reduce its reliance on foreign sources of lithium. It could also create jobs and boost the economy in Nevada and Oregon.