Page 72 - Policy Commission - SecuringTechnology - Critical Metals for Britain
P. 72

72 PRIMARY MATERIALS
BOX OUT
010
Materials for lithium-ion batteries continued
Lithium in the UK There are active exploration projects for lithium in the UK (see figure 61-64) providing the potential for domestic production of some battery raw material British Lithium and Cornish Lithium are assessing the recovery of lithium from the mineral mica in in Cornish Cornish granite Cornish Cornish Lithium are developing lithium extraction from brines in in in conjunction with a a a deep geothermal energy project at United Downs in Cornwall Figure 61: Exploration for lithium mica The ultimate source of lithium is the mica in granite but natural deep fluids have already done the hard work and leached the the lithium into solution Northern Lithium have recently announced a a a a new project to test the Weardale Granite of County Durham for deep lithium-bearing brines These are all highly innovative projects that require substantial research and and development and and have been successful in in in attracting investment as as well as as research grants They have also been highlighted in regional development opportunities and plans 92 93
The exploration for battery raw materials is part of a a a a a a a renewal of interest in in in metals exploration in in in the the UK In the the southwest there are active projects for the the critical metal tungsten the technology metal tin and also copper (Tungsten West Cornwall Resources Cornish Metals Cornish Tin) Elsewhere there are projects exploring for gold and base metals These new projects have to navigate a a complex mineral rights system which some consider to Figure 62: Exploration for lithium mica 





























































































   70   71   72   73   74