Open Lode is the Critical Minerals editorial desk: a collection of narrated briefings and project notes covering the countries, elements, mines, and processing projects shaping critical-mineral supply. Browse the shelf to understand what is being produced, what remains open, and where capital, offtake, or development work may still be needed.
Supply chain · Lithium
Australia digs the hard rock. Chile and Argentina pump the brine. The chemical — carbonate and hydroxide — is a different country from the pit, and the cell is a different country again.
- Steps
- 4
- Pinch
- The chemical
- Buys
- A cell
- 1
Ore
Hard-rock spodumene, or a brine. The Survey’s mine line stops here. It is not a battery.
- 2
Chemical
Spodumene leaves Australia to be converted, mostly in China, into carbonate or hydroxide. Chile already makes carbonate beside the brine. This is the pinch.
- 3
Cathode
The lithium chemical is cooked into a cathode powder, with nickel, cobalt, manganese, or iron. The plant is not the mine.
- 4
Cell
A cell is what a carmaker buys. Korea, Japan, China, and a newer book in America and Europe. The mine does not sell one.
- Japan · Cells
A mine share is not a refining share. The Survey prints the first. It does not print the plant. This is the hand-off, not a customs form. A country button loads that briefing in the player. It does not leave the chain.