Lithium to come from Chinese coal

Beijing: You may not like all Chinese things but you can't do away with this one - lithium sourced from coal in China! Lithium is an essential component of rechargeable batteries used in phones, laptops, tablets and in many electric vehicles. The coal from China could become a major source of the metal, according to a review of the geochemistry by scientists. They also claim that lithium has been found dispersed and even anomalously enriched in coal deposits, and is potentially extractable and has developed two technologies too. Worldwide annual consumption of lithium grew from 15,100 tonnes in 2003 to 37,000 tonnes by 2012, and the demand is expected to rise.