🌱 Fool’s Gold Could Power the Green Transition
New research finds that iron pyrite (“fool’s gold”) in Appalachian shale can contain significant amounts of lithium, a key battery metal for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. If extractable at scale, this could offer a lower‑impact source of lithium and help reduce reliance on new mining.
Fossil‑era iron pyrite grains in shale can hold surprising lithium concentrations useful for batteries.
Lithium is vital for EVs, phones, and grid energy storage — critical for green energy transitions.
Early work focuses on existing drill cuttings and mine waste rather than new land disturbance.
What was once a “worthless” mineral may become a marker and source of critical minerals, hinting at smarter, less ecologically damaging ways to power a greener future.
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