World-Class Lithium Deposit Discovered Beneath Salton Sea

Researchers funded by the US Department of Energy have confirmed that California’s Salton Sea region contains approximately 18 million metric tons of lithium—a discovery that dramatically exceeds prior estimates of 4 million metric tons. The geological surveys have valued this Salton Sea lithium reserve at approximately $540 billion, positioning it as one of the world’s largest lithium brine deposits and potentially transforming the United States’ position in the global battery materials supply chain.

Massive Reserve Reshapes US Energy Independence Strategy

The scale of the Salton Sea lithium discovery carries profound implications for America’s energy autonomy. According to researchers including Michael McKibben, a geochemistry professor at UC Riverside, the reserves could enable the United States to eliminate its dependence on Chinese lithium imports—a critical vulnerability in an era of surging electric vehicle adoption and renewable energy expansion.

Governor Gavin Newsom has characterized the Salton Sea region as the “Saudi Arabia of lithium,” underscoring its potential to dominate the battery production supply chain. This framing reflects the genuine strategic importance of the deposit: with global lithium demand expected to continue climbing, secure domestic sources have become essential to national competitiveness in the EV and clean energy sectors.

Economic Opportunity for California’s Struggling Region

Local officials have branded the area as “Lithium Valley,” envisioning substantial economic transformation for Imperial County—one of California’s economically disadvantaged regions. Development plans currently circulate allocating 80 percent of lithium extraction revenues toward local infrastructure and services, offering potential remedies for long-standing economic underdevelopment.

The revenue potential extends beyond the Salton Sea itself: job creation, industrial development, and supply chain clustering could establish the region as a hub for lithium refining and battery manufacturing, fundamentally reshaping the area’s economic prospects.

Technical and Environmental Challenges

Extracting lithium from Salton Sea brines presents significant operational complexity. The process requires pumping lithium-rich geothermal brine from deep underground, separating lithium compounds, and reinjecting residual liquid back into the earth. While this geothermal extraction technique proves less destructive than conventional open-pit mining, substantial obstacles remain.

Water scarcity represents a critical constraint. The Colorado River—already strained by regional demand—would face additional pressure from large-scale lithium operations. Simultaneously, the Salton Sea’s receding shoreline has amplified toxic dust levels in the surrounding air, contributing to elevated asthma rates among local populations. Mining expansion threatens to worsen these public health outcomes without rigorous environmental safeguards.

Geopolitical Dimensions and Strategic Competition

The Salton Sea lithium discovery arrives amid intensifying geopolitical competition for battery materials. China, the world’s dominant lithium producer, has escalated control over critical processing technologies. In February, Jiangsu Jiuwu Hi-Tech announced export halts on lithium-processing sorbents—compounds essential for efficient brine extraction. Such restrictions could disrupt supply chains for US and European companies developing alternative lithium sources.

This geopolitical pressure has accelerated multilateral cooperation. The US, European Union, and allied nations launched the Minerals Security Partnership in 2022, aimed at securing independent lithium and critical materials access. The Salton Sea deposit provides a tangible asset supporting these collaborative efforts, potentially shifting leverage in global supply chain negotiations.

The convergence of massive domestic reserves, regional economic potential, environmental complexity, and international strategic competition makes the Salton Sea lithium deposit far more than a geological discovery—it represents a critical test case for how the United States manages resource development, environmental responsibility, and geopolitical positioning in the clean energy transition.