Beneath Bolivia's Salt Flats: Lithium Wealth

Beneath Bolivia's Salt Flats: Lithium Wealth
Noah Friedman-Rudovsky

Drill
The Bolivian flag flies over equipment on the salt flats. Most of the lithium produced in the world is currently used to make batteries for mobile devices, but the market for electric automobile batteries, which would require 14 to 20 kilograms apiece (compared with the 30 grams that go into smaller batteries) is huge. If electric cars catch on, the world will need Bolivia's lithum.

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.