IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. — Producing about 1 percent of lithium domestically, America relies on countries like China for the silvery-white metal.
A border community in the southeast corner of California, the Imperial Valley has long relied on agriculture to support its economy. “I was studying lithium before lithium was cool," says Bill Tong, Vice Provost at San Diego State University and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry.“And the potential market is humongous," said Tong.Typically mixed in with rock, Imperial County's lithium deposits are in hot fluids deep underground. This hot brine is already being pumped to the surface and converted into energy by geothermal plants.
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