The Lithium Valley Project has pinpointed a significant domestic U.S. source of brine-hosted lithium located in the deep geothermal reservoir beneath the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California (Dobson et al., 2023). The project's first phase focused on assessing the key opportunities and challenges associated with developing this lithium resource. The first demonstrators for direct lithium extraction (DLE) from geothermal brines are currently under development (e.g., Fleming et al., 2024). In a co-production scenario, lithium-depleted brine is reinjected back into the geothermal reservoir at depth. The primary mechanism for replenishing lithium is anticipated to be the upward flux of convecting, lithium-rich brine from below the producing reservoir, alongside unexploited brines within the reservoir itself (Sonnenthal et al., 2024). However, the replenishment rates from the host rocks may not be fast enough to achieve significant increases in lithium over several decades, which could pose a challenge for the long-term sustainability of the resource. One objective of the current study is to further our understanding of fluid circulation and recharge dynamics, alongside the characteristics of deeper lithium-bearing minerals within the geothermal system, focusing on their chemical properties and reactivity. Additionally, our team has refined the reservoir model to assess the impact of different reinjection strategies on long-term lithium recovery (O’Sullivan et al., 2024). Based on a previous impact analysis examining geothermal power production and lithium extraction's impact on regional water resources, we estimate that the water demand for the currently proposed geothermal and lithium extraction facilities will account for only about 4% of the region's historical water supply (Busse et al., 2024). More significant impacts on regional water allocation will likely stem from proposed reductions in the Colorado River's water allotments between now and 2050, rather than from the expansion of geothermal production and lithium extraction. To effectively plan for future water needs, more detailed information will be necessary regarding the water consumption associated with lithium extraction and refining processes. Power plants in the Salton Sea geothermal field produce solid wastes as part of normal operations. Waste manifest information was used to evaluate quantities and types of wastes transported from Salton Sea power plants. Geothermal power plants in the Salton Sea geothermal field currently produce approximately 80,000 metric tons of solid waste per annum, representing approximately 30 kg of solid waste per MWh of electrical production. These solid wastes are predominantly composed of iron-silicate filter cake, brine-pond solids, and solids generated during plant maintenance.

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