I received my Rare Metal Blog update today and the story was about Lithium......yah...so I have done a little digging

taken from the blog

"In recent years, the United States Geological Survey [USGS] has facilitated an initiative called the Mineral Resources External Research Program, offered to individuals and industrial, academic and non-Federal governmental organizations, "that have the ability to conduct research in topics related to nonfuel mineral resources." The USGS yesterday announced the details of proposals that were awarded grants for this research, totaling up to $250K for the fiscal year.

two of the five successful proposals pertained to rare metals. Per the USGS announcement:

1) Lithium Resources: Important for Alternative Energy Technology

"LeeAnn Munk of the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and C. Page Chamberlain of Stanford University will study the formation of lithium resources in brine waters and clays, helping with estimations of resource potential in these environments. Lithium is an increasingly important commodity for alternative energy technology. This research will focus on brine resources at Clayton Valley in southwest Nevada and on clay resources at McDermitt Caldera in north-central Nevada."

2) Formation of Lithium and Rare-Earth-Element Deposits

"Adriana Heimann of East Carolina University will investigate the formation of granitic pegmatite deposits that contain lithium and rare earth elements. Particular focus will be placed on understanding the variability of mineral compositions in barren versus metal-rich deposits. This study is expected to provide a clearer understanding of the conditions under which these types of deposits formed and help in identifying where these deposits may occur."

see link below for full article

http://treo.typepad.com/raremetalblog/

Here is a good overview of Lithium deposits and the politics fueling (pardon the pun) this sector

http://www.beaconassetmanagers.com/3-beacon-blog/lithium-the-next-boom-mineral-or-next-dud.html

the conclusion is:

conclusion

Lithium is one of the best ways to play President Obama's energy agenda. The power of the Office of the President of the United States will be backing the Eco-Energy Revolution and billions of dollars will be given out to develop the technology behind the lithium-ion battery. This energy revolution is a serious investable long-term trend and we, as investors, have to take advantage of the opportunities being presented. We'd be smart to get in early, ahead of the herd, to take advantage of the coming global rush to electricity.

so I decided to see what companies are in the Clayton Valley in southwest Nevada and on clay resources at McDermitt Caldera in north-central Nevada."

rodinia

American Lithium

TNR gold/ International Lithium

http://www.baystreet.ca/users/newswire/viewarticle.aspx?id=247288

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0573737.htm

western Lithium

http://www.theenergyreport.com/pub/co/598

http://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/lithium-rare-earth-stocks/2254

Black Hawk exploration

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/SF25322.htm

kim