Deep beneath one of America’s oldest mountain ranges, scientists say a vast and largely untapped resource could reshape the country’s energy future.
According to the New York Post, geologists have identified what may be a massive supply of lithium hidden throughout the Appalachian Mountains.
This find could significantly reduce reliance on imports used to power everyday technology.
“This research shows that the Appalachians contain enough lithium to help meet the nation’s growing needs,” said Ned Mamula in a statement.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the region may contain roughly 2.5 metric tons of lithium, with the highest concentrations in parts of the Carolinas, Maine, and New Hampshire.
The estimated value of the deposits stands at around $64.4 billion.
Lithium is a key component in lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in devices ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles and even aerospace applications. Currently, the United States imports nearly half of the lithium it consumes.
Officials say this discovery could dramatically change that.
Estimates suggest the supply could produce enough material to power 1.6 million grid-scale batteries — or fuel approximately 130 million electric vehicles. The same resource could also supply 180 billion laptops or 500 billion cellphones, amounts that would stretch across generations of global use.
Altogether, the deposit could replace more than three centuries of lithium imports at current consumption levels.
Researchers used a combination of geologic mapping, tectonic history analysis, and geochemical sampling to arrive at their findings.
By studying lithium-rich pegmatites — a type of coarse-grained igneous rock — they identified 18 distinct mineral districts across the region.
The formations date back more than 250 million years, when tectonic forces collided to form the ancient supercontinent Pangea. Those same high-pressure, high-temperature conditions helped create lithium-rich magma deposits that remain embedded in the Earth today.
The timing of the discovery is significant. Global demand for lithium continues to surge, with production capacity expected to double by 2029.
Countries like Australia and China currently dominate the market, with China leading in refining and consumption.
“This research highlights the abundant potential to reclaim our mineral independence,” Mamula said.
If fully developed, the Appalachian deposits could mark a major shift in how the United States sources one of the most critical materials powering modern life.
