Jadarite is a rare lithium-rich mineral essential for battery production and the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Discovered exclusively in Jadar, Serbia, its unique formation process has now been decoded by scientists.
First identified in 2004 by Rio Tinto researchers, jadarite’s chemical composition is sodium lithium borosilicate hydroxide. Interestingly, this formula was previously fictionalized as “kryptonite” in the film Superman Returns. Unlike the movie version, jadarite is neither glowing nor radioactive.
The Serbian deposit contains enough lithium to power up to 90% of Europe’s projected electric vehicles in the coming decades. However, mining jadarite involves geopolitical tensions between Serbia and the European Union.
Researchers determined that jadarite’s formation requires highly specific conditions: lithium-rich volcanic glass, alkaline terminal lakes, and transformation of clay minerals into crystalline structures under precise chemical and environmental factors. Any deviation in acidity or temperature prevents its formation.
“The ingredients and conditions need to be exact, much like baking a cake,” said Dr. Francesco Putzolu of the Natural History Museum, London. The extreme rarity of these conditions explains why jadarite is only found in one location.
Understanding its formation narrows the search for similar deposits worldwide. While jadarite is not common, this discovery could help identify other viable sources of lithium in the future.
“With ongoing demand for lithium in renewable energy, jadarite mining holds significant potential,” added geologist Dr. Robin Armstrong, also from the Natural History Museum. “Our findings bring us closer to locating new deposits by recreating its formation conditions in the lab.”
The research was published in Nature Geoscience.