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Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found
(www.chemistryworld.com)
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
"they" simply put it up for sale... pharma buys what they need to make however much medicines will sell, and tech buys what they need to make however much batteries will sell.
I'm relatively certain the amount purchased by pharma will be miniscule as hell compared to what tech will buy. Lithium batteries are everywhere. You're probably staring right at one :)