Jadarite is a rare lithium-rich mineral essential for manufacturing batteries critical to the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Discovered in 2004 by Rio Tinto researchers in Jadar, Serbia, it holds enough lithium to power up to 90% of Europe’s future electric vehicles.
Its chemical composition, sodium lithium borosilicate hydroxide, is unique and previously unknown in nature, although it gained fame as the fictional kryptonite in the film Superman Returns. Unlike its cinematic counterpart, jadarite does not glow or emit radiation.
The mineral’s formation requires highly specific geological conditions: lithium-rich volcanic glass, alkaline terminal lakes, and the transformation of clay minerals into crystalline forms. These rare factors explain why jadarite is found only at this single location.
Dr. Francesco Putzolu from the Natural History Museum, London, noted that even slight deviations in acidity or temperature prevent jadarite’s formation, making its natural occurrence exceptionally limited.
Understanding the exact formation process narrows the search for other deposits worldwide, despite none yet being discovered elsewhere. Dr. Robin Armstrong, co-author of the study published in Nature Geoscience, emphasized the mineral’s potential role in meeting growing lithium demand for renewable energy technologies.
The extraction of jadarite also involves complex political considerations between Serbia and the European Union, highlighting the challenges in harnessing this resource.