Lithium deposits large enough to produce approximately 130 million electric vehicles may exist within the United States, raising the prospect that the country, long dependent on imports, could reclaim its status as a resource powerhouse.
An estimated 2.3 million metric tons (Mt) of lithium oxide may be buried across the Appalachian Mountains, according to a new analysis.
The New York Post reported Monday, citing research published by the US Geological Survey (USGS) in the international journal Natural Resources Research, that roughly 1.43 million Mt of lithium is estimated to be deposited in the southern Appalachians and approximately 900,000 Mt in the northern Appalachians.
The southern deposits are concentrated in North Carolina and South Carolina, while the northern deposits are centered in Maine and New Hampshire. The total market value is estimated at approximately $64.4 billion (about 95 trillion won).
Based on last year's US lithium import volume, the scale of these deposits is sufficient to replace imports for about 328 years.
130 Million EVs: "Enough to Reshape Future Industries"
The estimated lithium resources are overwhelming in scale of application.
According to the USGS, the reserves could produce 1.6 million large batteries for power grid stabilization, 130 million electric vehicles, 180 billion laptops (equivalent to 1,000 years of global use), and 500 billion mobile phones (about 60 per person globally).
Lithium is a critical mineral essential across advanced industries, including EV batteries, smartphones, military equipment, and energy storage systems.
As a result, it has been classified as a "strategic resource" in recent global supply chain competition, with nations intensifying efforts to secure supplies.
"There is enough lithium in the Appalachian region to meet the growing demand in the United States," USGS Director Ned Mamula said. "This carries significant meaning in strengthening US mineral security at a time when global demand is surging."
"The United States was the world's largest lithium producer 30 years ago," he added. "This study demonstrates the potential to restore resource self-sufficiency once again."
The United States currently has only one lithium producer and depends on imports for more than half of its total consumption.
For this reason, lithium was included in the 2025 "Critical Minerals List."
In the global market, Australia is the largest producer, while China plays a central role in refining and consumption.
"Great Potential but Uncertainty Remains"... A Variable in Supply Chain Realignment
The research was conducted by combining geological maps, geochemical sampling, geophysical surveys, and mineral records.
Researchers estimated undiscovered reserves through simulations using global lithium pegmatite data and identified 18 promising areas in total.
However, the figures represent median values based on a 50 percent confidence level.
In the case of the northern Appalachians, there is a 90 percent probability of at least 90,000 Mt and a 10 percent probability of up to 7.4 million Mt, reflecting substantial variability. In other words, actual reserves could be either greater or smaller.
The USGS projected that global lithium production capacity will double by 2029 in line with rising demand.
As electric vehicles and the energy transition accelerate, securing lithium is emerging not merely as an industrial issue but as a national strategy.
The Appalachian reserve estimate is significant in that it could provide a basis for the United States to break away from its import-dependent structure and restructure its supply chain.
However, real-world variables such as actual mining feasibility, economic viability, and environmental regulations remain. Depending on future development, the global lithium market landscape could be significantly reshaped.
