Resumen de !Vamonos!: : South America's lithium rush
Possessing a lithium resource of 6.5m tonnes and reserves of 2m tonnes, according to US Geological Survey (USGS) figures, Argentina makes up the eastern third of South America's so-called "lithium triangle", which straddles the intersection of northeastern Chile, southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina.
In the country, lithium is a "strategic" and "non-concessible" mineral, meaning the state retains tight control over its extraction, separating it from Argentina where companies gain full rights to lithium exploitation on any concession purchased.
While Chile is generally "quite liberal" when it comes to granting mining concessions, according to Jeronimo Carcelen, founding partner of Santiago law firm Carcelen, Desmadryl, Guzman and Tapia, lithium's position as a "strategic mineral" puts it in a different position.
