Fool’s Gold may yet be a glittering success because it’s not worthless, as many assume.

As it turns out, critics of pyrite were py-wrong. In fact, the common mineral may fuel the future in ways we scarcely imagine.

Throughout history, the discovery of pyrite was met with elation because of its superficial resemblance to real gold, but disdain and disappointment always set in as soon as its true nature was known.

Even today, “fool’s gold” is a metaphor for anything initially considered valuable that doesn’t pan out.

But the mineral’s reputation may change because of research at West Virginia University which shows that pyrite in Appalachian shale contains abundant amounts of lithium.

Demand for that metal is soaring worldwide because it’s a crucial element in the batteries that power everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles.

Right now, most lithium comes from surface mines and underwater pools in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, China, and Australia. But the mineral is hard to extract because it’s locked inside igneous rock and saltwater brine.

Separating easily accessible lithium from pyrite would be a much greener option, especially since large amounts of pyrite already exist in the leftovers from both industrial mining and oil and gas operations, past and present.

If the valuable material can be extracted from those waste materials, there would be no need........

© Sarnia Observer