The article I posted states Australia obtains majority of Li in world via hard rock mining, as well as South America. China still accounts for >2/3 of lithium refining and has 1/4 of worlds lithium. Australia ships raw to China for refining. China recently purchased a third major lithium mine in South America, and the size of mining operations is in the tens of thousands of acres per mine site. Nothing “interesting” about my choosing China. they refine most, mine a decent amount in Asia, and have purchased a non insignificant portion of South American mines. Compared to the US that has a huge amount of lithium in Maine for example, but the state will not allow mines >3acres, because clearing the land down to the dirt for tens of thousands of acres will obvisouly destroy and displace vast ecosystems. US companies are using fracking tech to get to it. (I like that they are purchasing fracking water and using it, but likely will lead to expansion of fracking) https://uh.edu/news-events/stories/2022-news-articles/may-2022/05172022-lithium.php