Re:Lithium drilling advances at the Salton Sea
by dave333 on Monday April 18, 2022 @09:49PM
(#31078997)
Lithium hydroxide sales could fund restoration of the Salton Sea using the "perimeter lake" concept or one of the other plans for a partial freshwater lake that doesn't require a large diversion of fresh water from the Colorado. Center would be dry playa with some irrigated vegetation or dry salt crust to prevent dust problems, maybe even golf course(s). Southern end of the lake would have brine habitat mostly for birds and geothermal/lithium plants. Total cost is roughly $10B which Lithium extraction would cover easily.
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Re:Lithium drilling advances at the Salton Sea
by pram on Monday April 18, 2022 @10:18PM
(#31079166)
Not really the topic but the area around the Salton Sea is one of the wildest things I’ve ever seen. It literally looks like an apocalyptic wasteland.
There’s ruined, half buried buildings near the shores. Tons of abandoned structures. Also the air was so acrid it was burning my eyes and nose the entire time.
Absolutely surreal. Wouldn’t be out of place in a Fallout game.
Re:Lithium drilling advances at the Salton Sea
by noduerme on Tuesday April 19, 2022 @02:24AM
(#31080179)
The smell is horrendous. And the shoreline is made of fish bones. The Salton Sea was an ecological disaster when it was accidentally created... the only thing that might make it worse now is if it dries out and the salt blows off.
And it is in fact the inspiration for "Sandy Shores" in GTA5.
Re:Lithium drilling advances at the Salton Sea
by panick21_ on Tuesday April 19, 2022 @04:44AM
(#31080890)
For lithium hydroxide sales to fund anything they first need to actually manage to profitably produce it. And we are far away from that yet. And its very questionable that it will ever get three. And even if it does, the idea that it is profitable enough to finance all that people are hoping is questionable. Lithium mining is a low margin business.