Great ‘white gold’ rush hits Nevada that sees claims for lithium on tribal land

There is a ‘white gold’ rush happening in Nevada that has seen more than 17,000 placer claims on lithium, but about three-quarters of the sites are on tribal lands and Native Americans fear their ancestral homelands will be turned ‘into a sacrifice zone for electric car batteries.’

One site in particular, Thacker Pass, is expected to produce at least 80,000 tons of the soft metal each year.

This land, however,  is where dozens of Native American were massacre in 1865 and Shelley Harjo, a Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone tribe member, stated the project ‘will be the biggest desecration and rape of a known Native American massacre site in our area.’

Government officials, including President Joe Biden, do not seem to be letting tribal land get in the way of increasing production of lithium in the US, as Biden has previously said he will ‘use every tool [he has] to make that happen.’

Nevada that has seen more than 17,000 placer claims (pictured) on lithium. This data is as of September 2022

The US is slowly abandoning gas-powered cars for electrical vehicles in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emission, but the shift also means it will be more reliant on other countries, like China, to provide the necessary materials.

Extracting lithium on US soil would help the nation on its path to being self-reliant, which is something the country has strived to be, but has yet to obtain.

Lithium mines in Nevada would push America toward the goal, but the mission has been met with criticism by Native American and environmentalist groups, who are specifically concerned about Thackers Pass, The Guardian reports.

The Thacker Pass Lithium Mine is a proposed project in Humboldt County that is owned by Lithium Americas and could churn out lithium for nearly the next 50 years.

The project was announced in January 2021 and shortly after, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and the Burns Paiute Tribe petitioned the court to stop construction due to the murders that had taken place hundreds of years ago.

The US District Judge Miranda Du ruled in November 2021 that there was no evidence a massacre had taken place and Lithium Americas was free to continue developing the site.

However, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reinvestigated the site in 2022 and found remains that proved 31 men, women and children were massacred there by government soldiers.

The Thacker Pass Lithium Mine is a proposed project in Humboldt County that is owned by Lithium Americas and could churn out lithium for nearly the next 50 years

The project was announced in January 2021 and shortly after, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and the Burns Paiute Tribe petitioned the court to stop construction due to the murders that had taken place hundreds of years ago

BLM land managers concluded that while the sites may be eligible for National Register of Historic Places, none of the five sites uncovered during their survey were within the boundaries of the lithium project area, according to the agency. This means Lithium Americas can continue with its plans.

Lithium exploration has drastically increased in Nevada over the last couple of years and it is also home to the only operating mine in the US.

The mine, located in Silver Peak, churns out about 5,000 tons of lithium a year, which is enough to make batteries for 80,000 electric vehicles, The Guardian reports.

And as many states, like California and New York, phase out gas-powered cars for electric vehicles, the US will need to provide a supply for the high demand.

Lithium exploration has drastically increased in Nevada over the last couple of years and it is also home to the only operating mine in the US. The mine, located in Silver Peak, churns out about 5,000 tons of lithium a year, which is enough to make batteries for 80,000 electric vehicles

As many states, like California and New York, phase out gas-powered cars for electric vehicles, the US will need to provide a supply for the high demand. Pictured is lithium evaporation ponds in Silver Peak

Karen Narwold, executive vice-president at Albemarle, told the Guardian: ‘Demand for lithium is tremendous; right now, I think it’s safe to say that certainly demand exceeds supply.

‘I think the infrastructure bill as well as the inflation reduction act are really tremendous opportunities for the US to develop a domestic supply chain for EVs.’

However, Harjo does not have the same enthusiasm as Narwold.

Are we willing to sacrifice sacred sites, health and internal balance for short term economic gains while giant corporations create unmeasurable wealth, deplete resources, and leave our future generations to endure the disorder the Thacker Pass mine would leave behind?,’ Harjo wrote.

‘I will never believe this is the best method for greener living and nor do many other native people in our area. 

‘Digging the Thacker Pass open pit mine on sacred land will only open many doors for additional destruction on Mother Earth.’