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Towards sustainable extraction of lithium-bearing brine resources: role of natural capital in the High Andes business strategies

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  • Edmundo Tulcanaza

    (Universidad Politecnica De Madrid, ET & SI Minas y Energia)

Abstract

It is a frequent topic to comment on the investments required to launch a new mine. However, we very rarely hear of a nation´s heritage resources that are used to accompany such an undertaking. I am referring to the natural capital, specifically, the in-situ mineral resources which are still in the ground; the flora, fauna, and soils which will be disturbed due to earthworks and infrastructures; the water consumed, and, likewise, some other natural elements. The motivation of this paper is to estimate the value of the natural capital involving the factors already mentioned used in the exploitation of the entire Lithium plateau in the High Andes which can play an important role in governments and companies’ decisions on regard of sustainability development, especially in their opportunities and risks. In this paper, only the lithium element contained in the salt flat values is considered. Based on their tonnages, three classes of lithium deposits are set up (Major > 1.000.000tLi, Medium 500.000tLi, and Minor

Suggested Citation

  • Edmundo Tulcanaza, 2025. "Towards sustainable extraction of lithium-bearing brine resources: role of natural capital in the High Andes business strategies," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 38(3), pages 653-664, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:minecn:v:38:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s13563-025-00513-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s13563-025-00513-x
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