Scientists Uncovered a Massive Lithium Reserve Hidden Under a U.S. Supervolcano Worth $1.5 Trillion

On a high desert plateau straddling the Oregon–Nevada border, an ancient volcanic crater known as the McDermitt Caldera is the focus of a significant national resource debate. Geologists estimate the site holds between 20 and 40 million metric tons of lithium, potentially one of the largest deposits in North America. This discovery comes as the U.S. government, including the Department of Energy and Department of Defense, designates lithium as a critical mineral essential for national security and electric vehicle battery production. In 2025, HiTech Minerals Inc. (a subsidiary of Jindalee Resources) submitted exploration plans to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the McDermitt Lithium Project in Malheur County, Oregon. The project has been granted FAST-41 permitting status to accelerate development. However, the proposal faces opposition from environmental groups like the Sierra Club, who cite risks to the greater sage-grouse habitat, and Indigenous groups concerned about cultural heritage. The extraction process for claystone deposits, unlike traditional brine or hard-rock methods, requires acid leaching, which is energy and water-intensive. Legal and environmental reviews are expected to continue through 2026.