Processing of Lithium Ore The lithium extraction process uses a lot of water—approximately 500,000 gallons (1,9million liter) per metric ton of lithium. To extract lithium, miners drill a hole in salt flats and pump salty, mineral-rich brine to the surface. After several months the water evaporates, leaving a mixture of manganese, potassium, borax and lithium salts which...Continue Reading
