Geological Survey of India discovered a huge amount of 5900 metric tonnes of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir

 What is Lithium

                              Lithium is one of the most important and useful metals found on earth. In the modern periodic table, lithium is placed in the first row and the second period with the atomic number of 3. It's silver-white in color, soft, and electropositive. Its valance number is 1. 

What is its use

                         In our modern world, we created a lot of methods to produce energy. But there are a few methods to store that energy. Back in the day one of the methods to store energy was led acid batteries. But there was a big problem, the lead acid batteries' size is too big compared to the energy storage capacity. In the late twenties century elections, the market started booming, and in the twenty-first century from mobile, and laptops to every election device need energy. But due to the size and capacity problem led acid batteries can't use in mobile, and laptops.  And that is why Lithium-ion batteries came on the market. It is compact in size, its energy storage capacity is high and more of all its energy discharge rate is pretty low. Nowadays lithium-ion batteries use became so versatile that it is being used in bikes and cars. Since lithium-ion batteries don't leave any harmful gases like petrol and diesel cars, it is promoted as green energy and eco-friendly. For all the various uses lithium is called ' the white gold ' and its demand is increasing rapidly.

Reserves of Lithium

                                    In Latin America, there is a lithium triangle between three countries- Chile (9300 metric tons), Argentina (2700 metric tons) and Bolivia has found the highest number of Lithium reserves in the world. Apart from those three countries, lithium is found in Australia (6200 metric tons), China (2000 metric tons), and the USA (1000 metric tons) as well. In 2022 Geological Survey of India discovered 1500 tonnes (approximately) of lithium reserves in Karnataka. It is not as big as other countries' reserves. But in February 2023 Geological Survey of India discovered a huge amount of 5900 metric tonnes of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, the Iranian government announced that they also found a massive amount of 8500 metric tonnes of lithium reserves in Iran. Because of this discovery, now India is ranked fourth in the world on lithium reserves. In coming years India's lithium reserves will be increased because a Geological Survey of India searching lithium in other states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, etc 

Problems with Lithium

                  Lithium is a non-ferrous,  electropositive metal, and it is highly reactive. That's why we can't find it in raw form. Lithium ore has to mine from the ground and that's not that hard. But refining that ore is a difficult one. Refining methods of lithium are unknown to most of the country including India. India does not have any facilities to refine that lithium ore as well as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, etc. Two countries China and the USA are mastered in refining lithium ore. That's why most of the countries sell that lithium ore to China. If India wants to have self-dependent on lithium-ion batteries then they have to build the infrastructure that can refine lithium ore in our own country.

Conclusion

                        India has a large population and is one of the fastest-growing economies. The demand for electronic gadgets is increasing rapidly in India. It is a piece of great news that India discovered a large number of lithium reserves. But if we do not find a method to refine lithium then it would be very difficult to fulfill our needs.