MIT researchers have created a new method for extracting lithium from rocks that promises to lower costs and reduce environmental harm compared with conventional approaches. The technique, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focuses on processing spodumene, the primary lithium-bearing mineral found in hard-rock deposits. By applying a combination of mechanical activation and milder chemical treatments, the team achieved high extraction rates while avoiding the extreme temperatures and toxic reagents typically required. Lithium demand continues to climb as electric vehicle production accelerates and renewable energy storage expands. Traditional sources include brine pools in South America, which involve pumping salty water into evaporation ponds that can take months or years to yield usable lithium.…