Overview

• Jadarite was first identified by Rio Tinto in Serbia’s Jadar Basin in 2004 and remains the only known occurrence on Earth.
• A new study published in Nature Geoscience shows that jadarite forms only when alkaline-rich lakes interact with lithium-rich volcanic glass and clay transforms into crystalline structures under precise conditions.
• Its chemical formula matches that of fictional kryptonite from the 2006 Superman Returns film, though jadarite is a white, non-radiative powder rich in lithium and boron.
• Extracting lithium and boron from jadarite requires less energy than conventional sources like spodumene, boosting its appeal for battery and green-tech applications.
• Despite its vast potential to supply enough lithium for most of Europe’s anticipated electric vehicle batteries, no further jadarite deposits have been discovered, keeping supply constrained.