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Properties of Lithium:
Properties of Lithium:
Lithium is a silicate mineral (meaning it has an element in it called silicon). Lithium does not occur naturally in its elemental form because it is way too reactive, but it can be found mixed with other elements in minerals like petalite, lepidolite, potassium, and spodumene.
Lithium can be identified by a glassy or pearly luster, but its hardness and color depends on which mineral it is contained in. For example, if found in lepidolite (purple), the Moh's hardness is around 3, but if it is found in petalite or spodumene (greenish or yellowish), it's much harder, around 6.5.
Lithium reacts with water and air, so it in needs to be stored in oil. (Source)
Where lithium is found in NC:
Where lithium is found in NC:
Lithium is found in Cleveland, Gaston, and Lincoln Counties.
Did you know that North Carolina contains most of our country's known lithium reserves?!
spodumene
What is lithium used for?
What is lithium used for?
Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are used in electric cars, so lithium is becoming increasingly useful.
Aluminum products
Ceramics
Making glass
Mining lithium:
Lithium comes from spodumene, lepidolite, or petalite. Mining lithium takes a long time because it must be extracted from these minerals which occur naturally.
Check out the link to the right for a video about how lithium is mined! -->
Currently, Chile and Australia produce more lithium than any other country because the conditions there are ideal for extracting the mineral and they have large known reserves.
Read more about lithium here: https://mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals-database/lithium/
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