Berkeley Energy discovers lithium‑rubidium deposit in Spain as Chilean university advances lithium extraction research

Berkeley Energy, an Australian firm operating in Spain, announced the discovery of a lithium and rubidium deposit at the Conchas project in the province of Salamanca, near the Portuguese border. The resource estimate includes 11.8 million tonnes of ore containing about 49,000 tonnes of lithium oxide and over 25,000 tonnes of rubidium oxide, minerals classified as critical by the United States, Japan and New Zealand. The announcement lifted the company’s share price by roughly 5.6 % on the Spanish market.

Separately, the University of Atacama in Chile hosted the Strategic Technical Meeting on Lithium and Salars, presenting progress on a research project aimed at improving the separation of magnesium from lithium‑rich brines. Funded by Chile’s National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), the work involves the university, the Advanced Mining Technology Centre (AMTC) of the University of Chile and the University of Antofagasta, and seeks to make lithium extraction more efficient and sustainable for the region’s growing industry.