The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has reported a massive lithium discovery in the Appalachian region, holding an estimated 2.3 million metric tons of economically recoverable lithium oxide. This could be enough to replace 328 years of imports at 2024 levels. However, this discovery is still a long way from becoming actual lithium in a real battery due to permitting delays, lawsuits filed by climate alarm conflict groups, financing hurdles, and the physics of mining scattered hard-rock deposits. The resource will remain untapped for decades, perhaps forever, and by the time it might be produced, advances in battery chemistry could render it yesterday’s news. Lithium extraction from oilfield brines requires existing infrastructure, regulatory environment, and regulatory resistance. However it is predicted that the future of this resource could change as demand shifts towards safer alternatives.