Lithium mining in Argentina: current status, future scenario and its spatial relation with High Andean wetlands

CASAGRANDA, ELVIRA; IZQUIERDO, ANDREA

San Salvador de Jujuy

Workshop; IWLiME 2016: 3rd International Workshop on Lithium, Industrial Minerals and Energy; 2016

UNJu, celimin

Lithium (Li), one of the key inputs in the manufacture of electronic devices batteries and electric propulsion vehicles, is widely distributed around the world, with nearly 80% of the world reserves deposited in brines inside the area known as "Lithium Triangle" (Figure 1), located in South America between three salt flats: Uyuni in Bolivia, Atacama in Chile and Hombre Muerto in Argentina. High Andean and Puna ecoregions are immersed in this triangle and therefore have important deposits of Li in their salt flats; these regions are characterized by extreme aridity being water a scarce resource and thus an ecological limiting factor. Wetlands in these systems are represented by peatbogs, salt flats, lakes and lagoons, which are the major water reservoirs, playing a key role in the regulation and provision of fresh water and maintenance of local biodiversity, among others. High Andean wetlands are highly fragile ecosystems and are exposed to different threats, among which are considered the climate change [1] and mining [2]. In particular, one of the most questioned aspects of Li mining is the use of large amounts of water in areas of extreme aridity (about 2 million water liters / Li ton) which leads to a decrease of the base level of ground water basin, whose most immediate consequence is the disappearance of the peatbogs and lagoons formed there [3]. Currently, Argentina has three projects extracting Li in these regions: Olaroz Cauchari, Olaroz and Fénix-Hombre Muerto, the last-mentioned located on the edge of the Hombre Muerto lagoon. However, at least six projects are in exploration or feasibility stages, so in the short term would add up at least nine Li exploitations. This would expand the area occupied by this productive activity to the northeast of the region, the area of highest biodiversity and density of wetlands, which could lead to environmental conflicts as a result of massive water consumption. In this work we analyze spatial distribution of Li mining in Argentina. Additionally, we analyze spatial patterns in sub-watersheds with active exploitation of lithium in relation to wetlands and possible implications to hydrologic dynamics of them.Political decisions in our country as in Chile and Bolivia, and Li demand trends in global markets, indicate that the exploitation of this resource continue to grow rapidly in our country. For this reason, coupled with the trend of aridity in the region, is urgently needed to make long term environmental monitoring. It could allow to know the impact of this activity on ecosystems and their functioning, in order to implement management measures that promote both development and conservation.