South America to lead global lithium rush

South American's lithium triangle is likely to be the chief source of the sought-after mineral over the next decade, Daniela Desormeaux, head of Chilean consultancy SignumBox, told the International Mining Exploration Forum in Santiago.

Tom Azzopardi in Santiago

Lithium Triangle competing with hard-rock deposits in Australia and elsewhere for new investment

Although projects in lithium hard-rock lithium mines, most notably in Australia, have driven the increase in production in recent years, the more competitive costs offered by production from brines and changing legal frameworks should combine to make Argentina, Bolivia and Chile the most attractive destinations for investment over the next decade.