Energising renewables through geology

During National Science Week geoscience is playing an important role in finding minerals like lithium. Common items such as smartphones and electric cars are reliant on lithium, which is an essential component in the batteries that power them.

During National Science Week geoscience is playing an important role in finding minerals like lithium. Common items such as smartphones and electric cars are reliant on lithium, which is an essential component in the batteries that power them.

As we continue to search for ways to decarbonise and transition to Net Zero, a collaboration between the Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV) and Dart Mining is making more information available about where lithium may be hidden underground.

Dart Mining have identified lithium bearing pegmatites in northeast Victoria, about 40 to 80 km southeast of Wodonga. Pegmatites are coarse-grained igneous rocks that, when containing lithium, include the minerals spodumene and lepidolite. The lithium bearing pegmatites in this this area are about 420 million years old and formed when Victoria was part of the supercontinent Gondwana.

Dart Mining is providing GSV with lithium enriched pegmatite samples, sourced from the company’s drilling programs in the area for geochemical and age analysis. These samples will also be characterised using infrared and x-ray scanning methods.

Manager of Basement Geoscience at GSV Cameron Cairns describes the project as an opportunity to better understand lithium enriched pegmatite occurrences in Victoria.

“By focusing on their geochemistry, mineralogy, age and geological setting we may be able to predict where lithium mineralisation could exist in other parts of Victoria,” Mr Cairns said.

The data gathered, which will help resource companies explore for lithium, is expected to be made freely available later this year through the Earth Resources website.