Elon Musk already boasts the biggest net worth in the world by quite a considerable margin, yet he could be set to increase that even further thanks to a recent discovery in China that has revealed over 1,300,000 tons of lithium.
While rare material discoveries have always been valuable when found, certain types of chemicals and minerals are more sought after than ever before due to their use in highly valuable electronics.
Rare earth elements such as yttrium and europium are vital to the development of extremely in-demand semiconductors that are powering the ever-increasing AI surge, yet there's one material in particular that's particularly of interest to someone like Elon Musk.
Why is lithium so valuable?
Lithium has become one of the most valuable and in-demand natural materials across the Earth in the last decade especially due to its utility in modern battery technology, specifically those used in smartphones and electric cars.
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With technology hopefully moving towards a more sustainable future places are looking for ways to power things more efficiently, and lithium has become the go-to source for that — especially following innovations made by Chinese scientists that significantly upgrade battery technology.
It's use in electric vehicles is particularly noteworthy, as lithium is essential to the manufacturing of these batteries, especially as they become more efficient, smaller, and powerful over time.
Where is the latest lithium deposit discovery?
As reported by Earth.com, the Chinese government has announced a major new lithium discovery in the Hunan Province, where 490 million tons of ore contains roughly 1.31 million tons of lithium oxide.
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This is one of the largest lithium discoveries in recent years, and could prove to be a game-changing find if significant amounts are extracted, adding to China's already dominant position in the lithium and rare earth elements market.
It's a particularly special situation too, as the Mineral Resources Survey Institute that located the lithium has used modern modeling and drilling to map the chemical with far greater precision, which should help making the process of extracting it far easier and less destructive too.
How will Elon Musk benefit from this find?
While the discovery would be beneficial for the world as a whole, it could prove to be particularly significant for Elon Musk thanks to his position as the CEO and owner of Tesla, the biggest electric vehicle manufacturer in the world.
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With significantly increased lithium reserves it would mean that a greater number of electric cars could be produced, therefore resulting in higher sales for Tesla and an increased net worth for Musk.
The company would still have to wrestle with the prospect of importing the material, especially in relation to Trump's tariffs which have disproportionately affected China, and that's why discoveries on US soil have been more significant to the fortunes of people like Musk.
However, it would still without a doubt be a net benefit for Musk and Tesla alike, and would almost definitely see his net worth increase as a result.