Australian project 'fingerprints' lithium for green metals trade

Researchers work on trade protocols as EU eyes Australian critical minerals

202406060 Opening of the Mt Holland Lithium Project

Australia is looking to move up the value chain in the global supply of lithium and other minerals critical for green energy technologies. © Getty Images

SHAUN TURTON, Nikkei staff writer

SYDNEY -- Researchers in Australia say they have developed a method of "fingerprinting" lithium to determine where it was mined, promising greater transparency in the supply of minerals critical for the green energy transition.

Developed by researchers from the John de Laeter Centre at Curtin University in Western Australia, the technique involves detecting unique chemical properties that indicate which country and even which mine site a sample comes from.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.