29 January 2022 | New Scientist | 31Lodes of lithium
THE vivid swathes of minerals
in this lithium extraction field
make for a dazzling sight, but
also represent a troubling aspect
of our rapidly electrifying world.
Taken by photographer
Tom Hegen, this image of the
Soquimich lithium mine in the
Atacama desert, run by major
mining operator SQM, is part
of his new project, The Lithium
Series I, which documents
lithium extraction in Chile.
The element is a critical
component in the lithium-ion
batteries used to power electric
cars, which are projected to
account for up to 60 per cent
of new car sales by 2030. The
ongoing demand for lithium
is unprecedented.
More than half of the world’s
supply of this element is thought
to reside in the “Lithium Triangle”
where Chile, Argentina and Bolivia
meet, with roughly a quarter
contained in the Salar de Atacama
salt flats in northern Chile.
The rush for lithium is
transforming landscapes across
South America. The varying hues
of the ponds in this extraction
field on the salt flats are caused
by different concentrations
of lithium carbonate, ranging
from the dilute, turquoise, to
the highly concentrated, yellow.
Although pretty from a
distance, lithium mines are
environmentally damaging
and use a lot water and energy.
They can also harm local
communities. The Lithium
Triangle is one of the driest
regions on Earth, and the mining
is reducing access to fresh water
for Indigenous communities,
as well as disrupting wildlife
habitats – effects that are only
exacerbated by climate change. ❚
Gege Li
Photographer Tom Hegen