1.9 million metric tons in proven reserves
6,200 metric tons produced
Globally, Argentina ranks third in terms of largest proven reserves, fourth in lithium production, and first among U.S. sources of lithium imports. Most of the mineral deposits are found in the
salares of the northwestern provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta. The Hombre Muerto salt flat in Catamarca is home to the country’s inaugural Fénix project, which started producing lithium in 1997. The country’s second project, Olaroz in Jujuy, didn’t come online until 2015.
While these are the only
salares in operation, the country had nearly 40 more projects in the works as of June 2019, from the expansions of the existing two mines, to another two under construction, and many more in both early and advanced exploration phases. The pandemic slowed various projects that were set to double the country’s installed capacity in 2021. Now the two mines under construction Caucharí-Olaroz and Salar de C