Misunderstanding over actual size of lithium deposits found in Thailand

The Department of Primary Industries and Mines has explained that there appears to be a misunderstanding that two major lithium deposits in Phang-nga province have been found to contain 14.8 million tonnes of lithium, making Thailand the world’s third largest source of lithium, after Bolivia and Argentina.

The department clarified that, in fact, lepidolite, not lithium, has been found in pegmatite rocks at the two deposits, Ruangkiet and E-thum, and the lepidolite contains about 0.45% lithium, which is not much but rich enough to have commercial potential in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).

According to Geology.com, Lepidolite is a rare lithium-rich mica mineral which is usually pink, red or purple in colour. It is the most common lithium-bearing mineral and serves as a minor ore of lithium metal, with rubidium and caesium sometimes being…