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Deposits of lithium are found in South America throughout the Andes mountain chain. Chile is currently the leading lithium metal producer in the world, with Argentina next. Both countries recover the lithium from brine pools. In the United States lithium is similarly recovered from brine pools in Nevada.[21]

Nearly half the world's known reserves are located in the Andes-containing country Bolivia, which in 2009 is negotiating with Japanese and French firms to begin production.[22] According to the US Geological Survey, Bolivia's Uyuni Desert has 5.4 million tons of lithium, which can be used to make batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.[22] This is the largest amount of lithium in any country when compared Chile's 3 million tons of lithium and the United States's 410,000 tons.[22] Icy relations between Bolivia's President Evo Morales and the United States could delay negotiations, and the indigenous people who live on this land could also slow down the process by demanding that they reap their share of the profits. [22]

China may emerge as a significant producer of brine-based lithium carbonate around 2010. Potential capacity of up to 55,000 tonnes per year could come on-stream if projects in Qinghai province and Tibet proceed.[19]

The total amount of lithium recoverable from global reserves has been estimated at 35 million tonnes, which includes 15 million tonnes of the known global lithium reserve base.[23]

In 1976 a National Research Council Panel estimated lithium resources at 10.6 million tonnes for the Western World.[24] With the inclusion of Russian and Chinese resources as well as new discoveries in Australia, Serbia, Argentina and the United States, the total has nearly tripled by 2008.[25][26]