Australian company Hawkstone Mining Ltd. has been conducting exploratory drilling in the Big Sandy River Valley under the auspices of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The valley is home to several sacred sites on public land, including culturally significant hot springs. But it also holds an enormous lithium deposit.
Lithium is an essential component of the batteries that power many electric vehicles and electronic devices. Listed as a critical mineral, it is needed to achieve the Biden administration’s goal of replacing gas-powered cars with electric vehicles.
Currently, the U.S. has only one large-scale lithium mine, which is located in Silver Peak, Nevada. But more are on the way, with pundits expecting a lithium mining boom in the country in the near future.
In the Big Sandy River Valley, exploratory work had already begun a few years back. Ivan Bender, a member of the federally recognized Hualapai Tribe, recalled seeing men working on a hillside near the valley’s Cholla Canyon Ranch four years ago.
“I asked them what they were doing,” Bender told High Country News. “They told me they were drilling.”...<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>
