Fool’s gold could be valuable after scientists make ‘unexpected’ discoveries in the Appalachians

Fool’s gold could spark this century’s ‘gold rush’ after scientists discovered it contains a coveted metal needed to produce greener energy.

Scientists at West Virginia University discovered a surprising amount of lithium in 15 rock samples of pyrite, the common mineral similar to its valuable counterpart, which formed about 390 million years ago in the Appalachian Basin.

The findings have led researchers to wonder whether old industrial mines could become a valuable source of lithium, but the discovery could extend far beyond the East Coast Mountains.

Lithium batteries are used to power a wide range of technologies, including phones, laptops, e-bikes, portable power tools and electric vehicles, and are even used as solar backup storage.

The findings have led researchers to wonder whether old industrial mines could become a valuable source of lithium — but the discovery could extend far beyond the East Coast Mountains (pictured are North Carolina’s Appalachians).

Demand for lithium is soaring as the U.S. shifts to green energy, such as electric vehicles that use lithium-ion batteries, which risk posing a serious fire hazard.

Sulfur-rich pyrite does not require as many resources during the extraction process, meaning its environmental impact is much lower than the -ion alternative.

And fool’s gold is found in quartz veins mined in the US in states like Colorado, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Montana, meaning there could be a lot more lithium hidden in the US.

Researchers in the electrochemical and engineering worlds have “already begun to look at how lithium-sulfur batteries could replace lithium-ion batteries,” says study co-author Shailee Bhattacharya.

“I’m trying to understand how lithium and pyrite might be related,” she said.

The team said they “unexpectedly” found that even with a relatively small amount of lithium in samples, it can release a significant portion (up to 54 percent) of all lithium from pyrite alone.

Lithium is used to power a wide range of technologies, from electric vehicles to laptops and mobile phones. Currently, 110,000 tons of lithium are mined annually worldwide, but by 2030 that number should increase to between 260,000 and almost 500,000 tons.

America’s lithium boom is underway and there are currently 72 proposed mines in the country

Although it is unclear how the white gold formed in fool’s gold, researchers noted that lithium is very sensitive to small increases in temperature and that shale, found along the mountain range, forms using the same geological process.

“This is a specific study, but it indicates that there is a possibility that shale could come from old mines,” Bhattacharya said.

“We can talk about sustainable energy without using a lot of energy sources,” she added.

The world currently produces around 110,000 tonnes of lithium per year, but the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that the world will need 2.5 to five times as much lithium by 2030 – which amounts to between 260,000 and almost 500,000 tonnes.

However, the real problem is not quantity, but the ability to produce the amount of lithium to support global green initiatives and fool’s gold could be the answer.

Lithium found in fool’s gold could provide a cost-effective, more environmentally friendly and safer approach as it is extracted from the sulphur-rich mineral.

Old industrial sites leave behind so-called ‘mining waste’, which consists of minerals left behind after the target mineral was extracted.

New mines can have negative and serious impacts on the environment that can continue for years after their closure, such as deforestation, pollution, soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.

The mining of minerals such as lithium and cobalt, which are used to power electric vehicles, has exposed 23 million people in the US to toxic waste, destroyed 16 million hectares of farmland and polluted 500,000 kilometers of rivers.