Description
The element lithium, discovered in 1817, has been in the news a lot. It is one of many elements needed to power the critical energy transition that is taking place. (e.g., cellphone, laptop, and electric car batteries.) The geology of concentrations of lithium in the Earth’s crust is complex and fascinating, yet the environmental concerns related to the extraction of lithium are most considerable. The conundrum is that we need a great deal of lithium and soon!
John Geissman is a professor emeritus of geoscience at the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of New Mexico. He received a BS, MS, and PhD in geology from the University of Michigan. He is a past president of the Geological Society of America (GSA) and editor for the GSA Bulletin. He has over 300 peer-reviewed science journal contributions.