Randal Burns

Chief Geologist with Lithium Nevada

Thacker Pass, NV

October 7, 2024

We spent a day with Randal Burns, the chief geologist for Lithium America touring the area of the Thacker Pass mine in Northern Nevada. It’s currently set to become the largest lithium mining operation in North America. As electric vehicles and battery technologies become further promised as important parts of the green energy movement, lithium has become the keystone element in their production.

His passion for the project was clear as he taught us about the geologic formations of the area and why the lithium deposits were so high-quality. They were formed by an old lake bed, where lithium had been leached by ground water and deposited in the lake bed, composed of uniquely soft rock. Randal was excited to speak about the extensive environmental and ecological surveys of the area that have gone into the planning for this mine. He showed us hundreds of feet of core samples from the deposits, drilling deep into the Earth to examine the lithium content. He explained that this mine should set a new standard regarding its lack of impact on the surrounding people, animals, and environment. In conducting extensive surveys of groundwater contamination, ecological impact on flora and fauna, and economic analysis of the mine’s impact on the region, Randal hopes to minimize any negative impacts associated with the project.

Mining is certainly a contentious topic, but Randal was open to acknowledging many of its past shortcomings and humanitarian issues while speaking excitedly about the future of the Thacker Pass project and how they’re going about things the right way.

A geologist at heart, his enthusiasm for his job and the rock formations he gets to explore hands-on was memorable. We learned and spoke at length about all of our passions, questions, and concerns related to the mine with Randal throughout our day with him, and we couldn’t be more thankful to him for making himself available and giving us his time.

by Theo Rollman