3 ms·
This is a surprisingly comprehensive and well-written article, worth reading. For example, the authors note that the majority of Australia's lithium ore is ref
by photochemsyn 4y ago
This is a surprisingly comprehensive and well-written article, worth reading. For example, the authors note that the majority of Australia's lithium ore is refined to metal in China, although there's a push for local Australian refining. For more details on the current state of lithium battery production globally, this is good:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31850-y https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31850-y
(Jul 2022) "Tracing the origin of lithium in Li-ion batteries using lithium isotopes", Desaulty et al.
This in particular is interesting, using a blockchain to track sourcing:
> "Major car manufacturers like BMW group, Tesla, and Volvo recently announced that they will increase the transparency of their supply chains for EV batteries, and ensure responsible and sustainable sourcing of raw materials. Some companies (BASF, Volkswagen, Fairphone) have started a partnership for sustainable lithium mining in Chile. Carmakers also explore the usefulness of blockchains for improving the scrutiny of supply chains. A blockchain is the control of chain-of-custody systems, based on the shipping documentation that is included in online databases, to allow real-time raw materials tracking and electronic tagging. However, document-based traceability systems can be falsified, and must be independently controlled and audited to provide credibility."
- SnowHill9902 4y agoHow does “blockchain” prevent a document from being falsified?
- YeBanKo 4y agoBlockchain allows you to to trace every transaction to its source and prevent double spend, if it is public. It does not have to be decentralized though, can be a closed system where every node has to go through a certification. I assume that a certified mining facility would be closely watched to ensure that the amount of lithium they mine matches what the sign for in transactions. And on the output, battery manufacturers are required only buy lithium they can trace to a certified mine and sign every device the make, including how much lithium it contains. If the ledger is public, anyone can verify that input=output + balance. It is not going to be decentralized, but it can be publicly verifiable.
- Nursie 4y agoBlockchains are not really of any use of an authority of any type can be identified. If it’s not going to be decentralised, then it doesn’t add anything but complexity. Looks like somewhere else people will try to crobar it in.
- perilunar 4y ago> This is a surprisingly comprehensive and well-written article, worth reading Well, maybe. But it’s a bit ridiculous to have an article about mining without a single map or any links to maps. How many people reading the article know where Kalgoorlie or the Pilbara is? (or even Perth?) Anyway, here are the mines referred to in the article, with links and/or Geohack Cornwall Pit and Greenbushes mine, Greenbushes, WA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbushes_mine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbushes_mine (looks impressive in Google Earth: https://earth.google.com/web/search/-33.8567368,116.0649188/ https://earth.google.com/web/search/-33.8567368,116.0649188/) Mount Marion mine, south-west of Kalgoorlie, WA: https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Mount_Marion¶ms=31.0761261_S_121.426602_E_type:landmark_region:AU-WA https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Mount_Mar... Earl Grey Lithium Mine, Mount Holland, WA: https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Earl_Grey_Lithium_Mine¶ms=32.0910347_S_119.7456795_E_type:landmark_region:AU-WA https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Earl_Grey... Ball Hill Lithium and Tantalum Mine, WA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_Hill_Lithium_and_Tantalum_Mine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_Hill_Lithium_and_Tantalum... Mount Cattlin mine, Ravensthorpe, WA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_Cattlin_mine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_Cattlin_mine Altura Lithium Mine, Pilgangoora, Pilbara, WA: https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Altura_Mine¶ms=21.0746506_S_118.8930287_E_region:AU-WA_type:landmark https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Altura_Mi... Wodgina mine, Pilbara region, WA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wodgina_mine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wodgina_mine Finniss Lithium Project, near Darwin, NT: https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Finniss_Lithium_Project¶ms=12.66731291_S_130.78315341_E_region:AU-WA_type:landmark https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Finniss_L...