> Over the past two decades, however, the Ukrainian Geological Survey has conducted scientific and strategic research, identifying several areas with lithium minerals such as spodumene with very high potential. “The very ancient rocks that lithium producers are interested in are pegmatites containing spodumene (lithium aluminum silicate), the mineral preferred by industry,” explains Dini. “These rocks do not have polluting metals such as lead, zinc and cadmium, but they contain silicates (quartz, feldspar) that as waste material can be sold to the ceramic industry.” In short, of pegmatites, nothing is thrown away. According to the researcher, Ukraine and Serbia probably have the greatest potential for extracting lithium in all of Europe. > Ukraine has 10% of the world’s iron reserves, 6% of titanium and 20% of graphite.