A Game-Changing Discovery Just Turbocharged These Lithium Stocks

I don’t know if you noticed, but lithium stocks are getting exciting again. For the past few years, prices had swooned as investors lost interest. But that’s usually the best time to be a buyer. And that’s what my colleagues and I have been saying. So if you took our advice back then, you’re sitting pretty from those lithium stock gains right now. But if you didn’t, don’t despair.

Because there’s still time for you to make a big profit from lithium stocks as this industry gets back up to full speed…

Lithium in the Land of Opportunity

And some exciting news from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) seems to be jump-starting that rally in certain lithium stocks right this instant. You see, they’ve just uncovered a massive lithium reserve in the Smackover Formation, right in southern Arkansas.

Now, this could really shake things up for lithium production in the U.S., especially for industries like electric vehicles and renewable energy, but also for all the small electronic devices we use every day.

The thing is, though, that the Smackover Formation isn’t new to the scene. In fact, it’s long been known for its oil and natural gas. But recent explorations have revealed that it’s also a gold mine for lithium, which is super important for lithium-ion batteries in electric cars and renewable energy tech.

And the USGS estimates that this formation could hold between 5 million and 19 million tons of lithium. Yep, you heard that right — this amount could meet global lithium demand for the next decade!

Exxon Mobil’s a Lithium Stock!?

Leading the charge is Exxon Mobil, which you probably already know as one of the biggest players in oil and gas. Exxon recently plowed billions of dollars into acquiring mineral rights to a large swath of the Smackover Formation. And it’s already gearing up to extract lithium within the next few years.

That means one of the largest oil producers in the world is now aiming to become one of the largest lithium producers as well. Its goal? To pull enough lithium to power about 1 million electric vehicle batteries each year. Pretty ambitious, huh?

Exxon Mobil’s plan involves drilling wells down to around 10,000 feet to reach the lithium-rich brine. Once it brings that brine up, it’ll use a method called direct lithium extraction (DLE) to snag the lithium.

Now, this tech is a game-changer, allowing the company to extract up to 90% of the lithium compared with the old evaporation ponds that only get about 50%. Plus, DLE is more eco-friendly, with fewer emissions and less land use than traditional hard rock mining.

A History of Underappreciation

Now, this latest USGS survey is particularly noteworthy because it’s the most accurate one that’s ever been taken. And historically, USGS resource estimates have undersold what’s really there.

For historical examples, just look at the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas. The initial oil estimates were way off because of advancements in exploration tech that the USGS couldn’t take into account.

In 2011, the USGS estimated 853 million barrels of recoverable oil. By 2018, that number had been boosted by 10x, to 8.5 BILLION barrels!

So it’s possible the lithium reserves in the Smackover could be even bigger than what we think!

This discovery also fits in nicely with the federal government’s push to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals. It’s all about reducing our reliance on China, which currently dominates the lithium market.

This means the impact of Smackover on the lithium market could be huge.

It might just turn the U.S. into a major lithium player, enhancing energy security and boosting the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors.

Exxon Mobil sees this as a triple win — helping North American energy security, increasing supplies of a vital material, and cutting down emissions in transportation.

The Rise of the “Exxon Slayer”

But the thing is that while Exxon Mobil is just getting started in Smackover, there’s another, much smaller player in the game some people have taken to calling the “Exxon Slayer.”

You see, this company is already active in the Smackover Formation and has been running a demonstration plant for direct lithium extraction for over three years. So while Exxon is just getting started, this company has already processed millions of gallons of brine.

Because the “Exxon Slayer” boasts some impressive DLE tech, too. And it might just be even quicker and more efficient than what Exxon is working with. It can produce battery-grade lithium in just six hours, while traditional methods can take a year or more.

Plus, the “Exxon Slayer’s” process can recover lithium with up to 96.1% efficiency and is way more environmentally friendly, recycling the brine back into the earth after extraction.

Positioned for Success

It’s got two major projects in the works. The most exciting is definitely the one in southwest Arkansas. It has some of the highest-grade lithium brine resources in North America.

Case in point: A preliminary study showed it could produce up to 35,000 tons of battery-quality lithium hydroxide annually over 20 years.

But the company is also gearing up for a new project that will process brine from existing bromine operations, aiming for significant lithium production. Studies suggest it could produce around 5,400 tons of battery-quality lithium carbonate each year from this source as well.

With over 180,000 acres of lithium-rich properties across the Midwest and a massive 45,000-acre claim in California’s Mojave Desert (home to another of the largest lithium brine deposits in the country), the “Exxon Slayer” is in a prime position to ride the wave of growing lithium demand.

So if you’re looking to get into the lithium scene, it seems like the “Exxon Slayer” might be worth checking out over Exxon Mobil. For those curious about the potential of the “Exxon Slayer” and how it could dominate the U.S. lithium market, be sure to look at our free report for all the juicy details!

I’ll be back tomorrow with more ways to maximize your profits and stay one step ahead of the herd.