Summary of United States mineral resources

Lithium resources and requirements by the year 2000

“…This is the basis for the current U.S. Department of Interior nomenclature and classification of mineral resources, most recently de scribed in comprehensive form by the U.S. Geological Survey (1975). Among the many other publications dis cussing the diagram are , Brobst and Pratt (1973), and Schanz (1975).…”

Mineral resources; potentials and problems

“…Identified-subeconomic resources: Materials that are not reserves, but that may become reserves as a result of changes in economic and legal conditions. (Referred to as "conditional resources" in Brobst and Pratt, 1973.) Hypothetical resources: Undiscovered materials that may reasonably be expected to exist in a known mining district under known geologic conditions.…”

“…However, they have been made by geologists who have spent a significant part of their careers studying the geology of their respective commodities, and they may probably be regarded as the most reliable resource estimates now publicly available. (Readers who have questions may refer to Brobst and Pratt (1973) or directly to the authors for more details.) We hope that a continuing resource appraisal program now being implemented in the Geological Survey may make possible the periodic refinement of these estimates and also may eventually be extended to include appraisal of the impact of the first three actions listed above on our domestic mineral supply.…”

“…"United States Mineral Resources" (Brobst and Pratt, 1973) reviewed the long-term United States position for potential resources of 65 mineral commodities or commodity groups. One of the main purposes of the report was to provide people other than geologists with easily understandable factual data on the resources of the many mineral commodities that are important to our daily lives.…”

Caution on using lithium (Li+) as a conservative tracer in hydrological studies

“…Second, the industrial use of Li is increasing, in part due to the development and commercialization of Li-Al alloys (these are lighter and stronger than Al alone, and so are gaining acceptance for use in aircraft manufacturing). Other important uses of this element include Li-ion batteries (as anodes and as a constituent of the electrolyte in storage batteries), specialty ceramics, cosmetics, and some kinds of lubricants (Brobst and Pratt 1973).…”