California lake discovered to contain a $540 billion treasure

Several young metal-detecting enthusiasts dream of discovering buried pirate treasures filled with gold coins, rubies, and pearl necklaces. Gold isn’t the only thing that glitters, nor is gold the only thing that’s treasure.

Rather than gold coins, this unusual California lake contains a different kind of metal that has become far more useful in our modern world. Using funding from the DOE, scientists discovered a salton sea mine of “white gold,” or lithium.

Salton Sea has had an unusual history as an eco-nightmare due to tourism. California’s largest inland body of water appears to be hiding a substantial natural deposit worth $540 billion, hidden beneath its noxious surface.

How was this vein of natural wealth discovered? How does this affect the Salton Sea?

What’s the Story of the Salton Sea?

Floodwaters from the Colorado River escaped a canal in Imperial County in 1905, forming the Salton Sea in a huge desert basin in northern Imperial County.

Historically, the lake has been fed by irrigation runoff from the Imperial Valley and the Coachella Valley (yes, the Coachella of music and Palm Springs fame), serving as a “sump” for agricultural runoff, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Midway through the twentieth century, this newly formed lake-in-the-desert became a haven for migratory birds, and developers were intrigued by it at the same time. Palm trees and a golf course lined the shores of the Salton Sea as luxury resorts popped up.

Frank Sinatra, President Eisenhower, and the Beach Boys were just a few of the celebrities who visited the resort area. Fishermen and swimmers came from all walks of life to this fishing and swimming getaway.

Sea levels had changed significantly by the 1990s, and recreational swimming was no longer safe.

Lakes are often filled with runoff from agricultural operations, which includes pesticides, nitrates, and other refuse. When these undesirable elements were combined with the salt on the lake bed, they dramatically increased the salinity of the water.

Salt in the water (as well as noxious fumes) was so high that masses of fish rapidly died and toxic algae blooms appeared in the water. Similar to Bodie, the great American ghost town at the Salton Sea was abandoned as well after the resorts and vacation homes were abandoned.

Lithium Was Discovered In The Salton Sea In What Way?

Originally a popular family holiday resort similar to those at Lake Tahoe has turned toxic and noxious. Imperial Valley’s increasing heat, along with water rights conflicts, have depleted the area’s allure and are currently threatening the health of its residents.

Though it was once an unattractive destination for tourists, the lake has now been revalued as something much more valuable. Geothermal aquifers in the Salton Sea’s lake bed contained lithium-infused brine deposits, according to researchers.

Based on our current extraction technologies, the Salton Sea contains 2.6 million tons of lithium that can be extracted using current technologies, which UC Berkeley Lab confirmed in its extensive report. Lithium is therefore found in this previously abandoned lake in the world’s largest deposit.

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Salton Sea geothermal brines were investigated and analyzed by a lithium extraction commission established in 2020.

Extraction of lithium is a challenging process, and technology must be developed in order to make it feasible and safe. Nevertheless, the payoff could be enormous for California, the country, and even the world as a whole.

What Is the Importance of Lithium?

Lithium is the absolute mineral king in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Among modern technologies, lithium is used in smartphones, laptops, tablets, and large-scale batteries for electric vehicles, among others.

Salton Sea could produce batteries for 380 million electric vehicles, reducing the need for lithium extraction from overseas deposits, such as those in the Sichuan Province of China. Similarly to oil, lithium is fast becoming the white gold of energy resources due to its pricey nature.

Lithium is consumed in only 200,000 tons worldwide per year, so this Salton Sea deposit could significantly contribute to American energy resources for many years to come. Nevertheless, the extraction process may have a significant impact on the local population of the Salton Sea.

Water from the Colorado River would be used for the extraction plants in an area with already contending water issues. Furthermore, locals are concerned that the benefits will not reach them but rather support an economy built and propagated by companies.

The Salton Sea still hosts migratory birds that are concerned about the effects of lithium extraction on them, despite lithium’s toxic nature. All of this notwithstanding, researchers and state officials are hopeful that this new hotbed of highly valuable material will benefit the community positively.

Battery-grade lithium is mined in 250,000 metric tons per year, enough to power 400,000 electric cars. We can only hope this is a turning point for the Salton Sea and its residents, humans, and birds.