Lithium
- It is a soft, silvery-white metal that heads group 1, the alkali metals group, of the periodic table of the elements.
- It has the lowest density of all metals and the lightest of the solid elements.
- It reacts vigorously with water.
- It does not occur as a metal in nature but is found combined in small amounts in igneous rocks.
- Major Reserves: Lithium reserves are concentrated in the lithium triangle in South America – Argentina, Bolivia & Chile, with 50% of the deposits concentrated in these regions.
Polymetallic Nodules (PMN)
- Polymetallic nodules (PMN) are also known as manganese nodules.
- They are potato-shaped, largely porous nodules found in abundance carpeting the sea floor in the deep sea of the world oceans.
- Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium.
- Of these metals nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance.