The Basin Beneath the Satellites

Railroad Valley, a vast, barren stretch of land (80 miles long north–south, 20 miles wide) in central Nevada, is turning heads once again. Not because of oil or natural gas, though it is one of the few places in the state where those resources have been found, but because of lithium. A company called 3 Proton Lithium, or 3PL, believes the valley holds the largest identified lithium deposit in North America.

This sweeping salt flat has another, lesser known role. Since 1993, NASA has used the lakebed at the center of Railroad Valley to calibrate satellite instruments. The location is perfect for it: the surface is flat, uniform in color, and largely untouched. It is rarely cloudy, has remained consistent for decades, and gives scientists a reliable platform to measure satellite signal timing and accuracy. NASA objected to proposed lithium mining operations near the calibration area, prompting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw 36 square miles from mineral exploration. Despite this concession, the BLM has moved forward with approving broader development by 3PL elsewhere in the valley.

It is a high stakes balancing act between preserving a critical scientific resource and tapping into a vital mineral deposit that could power the country’s green energy transition.

A Green Light from the Feds

In June 2025, the Bureau of Land Management issued a FONSI or Finding of No Significant Impact for 3PL’s Railroad Valley project. This document signals that, after environmental review, the agency sees no major obstacles to letting the company move forward. The agency’s go ahead was celebrated by U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who also chairs the National Energy Dominance Council. He framed it as a win for both the environment and the economy, describing the project as a model for sustainable resource management.

Kevin Moore, chairman of 3PL, called the green light “a major milestone” and emphasized that this project is not just about lithium. The company has permission to explore for boron, tungsten, sodium, potassium, and phosphate as well, materials critical for everything from smartphones to solar panels to military hardware. Moore pointed to the strategic importance of domestic mineral production, particularly as global supply chains are disrupted by geopolitics and increasing demand. The United States imports nearly all of the lithium it uses, and Railroad Valley represents a chance to shift that balance.

What’s So Special About Railroad Valley

So why is Railroad Valley such a hot spot for lithium The answer lies in Nevada’s unique geology. Roughly 17 million years ago, the western United States began stretching apart, creating what geologists call the Basin and Range Province. This extension of the Earth’s crust formed a patchwork of valleys and mountain ranges running roughly north to south. Nevada, sitting squarely in the middle of this geologic transformation, became a land of deep basins, volcanic activity, and closed hydrological systems.

As magma welled up and volcanoes erupted, they left behind rocks like rhyolite, a form of volcanic granite that contains trace amounts of lithium. Over time, rainfall and snowmelt leached the lithium from these rocks. Since many of Nevada’s valleys have no outlet to the sea, the mineral rich water pooled in ancient lakebeds, forming brines that slowly became concentrated with lithium and other elements. Think of these basins as natural lithium traps. Water flows in, but it doesn't flow out. Over time, evaporation leaves behind a salty stew rich in valuable materials.

Christopher Henry and James Faulds, geologists with the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, note that the state's high heat flow, volcanic history, and internal drainage make it uniquely suited for this type of mineral accumulation. This geologic cocktail is responsible for Nevada having eight of the ten largest lithium deposits in the United States.

From Pegmatites to Brines

Lithium mining generally falls into two categories: hard rock mining and brine extraction. Hard rock lithium is extracted from pegmatites, dense igneous rocks that contain high concentrations of lithium bearing minerals. Australia’s Greenbushes mine is a prime example of this method. It is the largest lithium mine in the world and operates by crushing and processing rock.

Nevada, by contrast, focuses primarily on lithium brines. Here, lithium is dissolved in subsurface saltwater and pumped to the surface, where it is collected in evaporation ponds or processed through more advanced techniques. This method is often seen as less environmentally invasive than traditional hard rock mining, though it comes with its own challenges, such as water use and potential land subsidence.

Railroad Valley’s lithium resource is considered a "volcano sedimentary" deposit, formed when lithium is washed out of volcanic rocks and settles into basin sediments. According to 3PL, their claims in the valley cover over 58 square miles and contain an estimated 119 million tons of lithium resource. If that estimate holds, it would make Railroad Valley one of the most valuable mineral sites in the country. Simon Jowitt, an economic geologist at the University of Nevada, Reno, explains that the valley acts almost like a sponge. Water loaded with dissolved lithium collects in the basin and, with nowhere else to go, simply sits and concentrates.

For companies like 3PL and policymakers looking to boost domestic lithium production, that is a dream come true.

New Chapter for Nevada

As Kevin Moore of 3PL put it, “This is not just about lithium. It is about securing the critical minerals we need for a new era.” And that new era is arriving fast. For Nevada, a state long defined by the mining industry, lithium may represent a new chapter, one where old landscapes and new technologies collide in surprising ways.

Lithium, often called the “white gold” of the clean-energy era, is quickly becoming Nevada’s most sought after mineral. In a state already known as the nation's top gold producer, the growing focus on lithium marks a major shift in priorities. “Lithium is certainly the talk of the state right now,” said Amanda Hilton, president of the Nevada Mining Association. “There’s a great opportunity here as Nevada continues to expand its mining footprint. There is a tremendous amount of support for lithium development.”

Of course, Nevada already touts its "Lithium Loop," as the state is home to almost every phase of the lithium supply chain, from mining the ore in Esmeralda County, to producing electric car batteries at the Tesla Gigafactory near Reno and recycling the batteries near Fernley.