Lithium mining – in pictures

  • Evaporation pools at the new state-owned lithium extraction complex in the southern zone of Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia. AFP
    Evaporation pools at the new state-owned lithium extraction complex in the southern zone of Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia. AFP
  • A brine pool at the Albemarle Corp lithium mine in Calama, northern Chile. Albemarle is the world's biggest producer of lithium. Bloomberg
    A brine pool at the Albemarle Corp lithium mine in Calama, northern Chile. Albemarle is the world's biggest producer of lithium. Bloomberg
  • A mine worker takes water samples from a brine pool at the Albemarle lithium mine in Calama. Bloomberg
    A mine worker takes water samples from a brine pool at the Albemarle lithium mine in Calama. Bloomberg
  • A lorry carries a load of potassium chloride at the Albemarle lithium mine in Calama. Bloomberg
    A lorry carries a load of potassium chloride at the Albemarle lithium mine in Calama. Bloomberg
  • Workers at the Llipi pilot plant at Uyuni Salt Flat, south of Bolivia's capital La Paz. The country has more than 40 per cent of global lithium reserves. AFP
    Workers at the Llipi pilot plant at Uyuni Salt Flat, south of Bolivia's capital La Paz. The country has more than 40 per cent of global lithium reserves. AFP
  • Brine pools at SQM lithium mine on the Atacama Salt Flat in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. Reuters
    Brine pools at SQM lithium mine on the Atacama Salt Flat in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. Reuters
  • Bikita Minerals' mining plant in Bikita, 340 kilometres south of Zimbabwe's capital Harare. It is the only mine in Africa that produces world-class lithium pegmatite. Zimbabwe is the sixth-largest producer of lithium. EPA
    Bikita Minerals' mining plant in Bikita, 340 kilometres south of Zimbabwe's capital Harare. It is the only mine in Africa that produces world-class lithium pegmatite. Zimbabwe is the sixth-largest producer of lithium. EPA
  • Piles of salt, a byproduct of lithium extraction, at the new state-owned lithium extraction complex at Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia. AFP
    Piles of salt, a byproduct of lithium extraction, at the new state-owned lithium extraction complex at Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia. AFP
  • Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to a lithium mine brine pool at the Atacama Salt Flat in Chile. Reuters
    Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to a lithium mine brine pool at the Atacama Salt Flat in Chile. Reuters