Lithium Mining Companies in North Carolina, Compared

No lithium mine in North Carolina is producing today. The USGS reports that commercial-scale lithium output in the United States comes from one brine operation in Nevada (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2026). Two companies are closest to changing that in the Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt. Albemarle (NYSE: ALB) finished federal permitting for its Kings Mountain pit in Cleveland County, announced on 30 March 2026 (Permitting Council). Elevra Lithium (ASX: ELV; Nasdaq: ELVR), the company formed when Piedmont Lithium and Sayona merged in August 2025, holds a 2024 state mining permit for Carolina Lithium in Gaston County and still needs an air permit (NC DEQ). This guide compares the lithium players, then covers the permits, prices, neighbours and the other mining companies that give the state most of its mineral output.

Lithium companies in North Carolina at a glance

The table lists the companies with a permitted site, a permit application or an operating plant for lithium in the state that we found in regulator notices and company filings. Each status carries its date.

Only the first two involve mining ore. Names change fast in this sector, so check the legal entity on any permit you read. Piedmont Lithium no longer trades under its old name: its shares were delisted when the merger closed on 29 August 2025 and holders received American Depositary Shares in Elevra (Piedmont Lithium announcement). For a primer on pegmatite, brine and clay deposits, see our guide to lithium deposit types.

Albemarle and the Kings Mountain restart

Albemarle is based in Charlotte (Albemarle investor site). It bought the Kings Mountain site from Rockwood in 2015 and describes mining there as ending in the early 1990s; the plant on site converts lithium carbonate from Nevada and Chile into about 5,000 metric tons of compounds a year (Albemarle, 2024). The pit opened in 1938 and was among the world’s largest lithium producers, according to the US Department of Energy’s March 2026 environmental assessment.

That assessment sets out the restart plan:

• Ore and product: the concentrator would process an average of 3.25 million short tons of ore a year (about 2.95 million tonnes) to make 420,000 to 440,000 short tons of spodumene concentrate. Spodumene is the main lithium mineral in pegmatite, and a concentrate is the ore after crushing and separation raised to roughly 5% to 6% lithium oxide (Li2O).
• Footprint: the site covers 1,083 acres, of which 574 acres would be newly disturbed. About 771 acres are already permitted under the state Mining Act.
• Where the product goes: concentrate would travel by rail to an offsite plant to become lithium hydroxide. Filtered tailings (the fine waste) would go to a storage site about 3 miles away, and waste rock with value as aggregate would go to the neighbouring Martin Marietta quarry.
• Jobs: about 1,000 during construction and 400 during operations (US Department of Energy, Final Environmental Assessment DOE/EA-2265).

Public money backs the plan. The Energy Department proposed a US$149.7 million grant toward the concentrator (which DOE calls a mineral processing plant), with Albemarle adding at least US$244.4 million (same assessment). The Defense Department approved a US$90 million grant in 2023 for mining equipment (Albemarle, proposed mine page). The Permitting Council called Kings Mountain the 12th mining project to complete federal permitting under FAST-41 and the first in North Carolina. Albemarle’s own statement said it would keep working with local and state bodies for their approvals. Albemarle’s project page describes the company as still seeking permits to resume open-pit mining.

Elevra Lithium and the Carolina Lithium project

Elevra is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, and its producing mine is North American Lithium in Quebec; Carolina Lithium is its development project in North Carolina (Elevra quarterly report, 28 July 2026). The project sits in Gaston County, in the same belt as Kings Mountain.

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Carolina Lithium: reserves and resources

Million tonnes, 31 December 2023; resources are reported on top of reserves

The state mining permit covers 1,548 acres, of which 964 acres are bonded for disturbance (WBTV, May 2024). Piedmont told the county in 2023 that the mining area would take about 385 acres, roughly a quarter of the permit area (Gaston County Q&A, August 2023). As of 31 December 2023 the company reported probable reserves of 18.26 million tonnes at 1.10% Li2O, plus 9.96 million tonnes indicated and 15.93 million tonnes inferred in resources (Piedmont Lithium Form 10-K for 2023). A reserve is the part of a deposit shown to be economic to mine; indicated and inferred resources are less certain. The plan includes a plant making 30,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide a year at full capacity.

The open permit is the air permit. The state Division of Air Quality reviewed a major-source Title V application, held a hearing on 13 October 2026 and closed comments on 16 October. Its draft finds that controlled emissions should keep the area within federal air quality standards, and it caps hazardous air pollutants at 10 tons a year for any one pollutant and 25 tons a year combined. The draft also requires compliance with local zoning before construction (NC DEQ). Elevra says its next step after the air permit is to seek rezoning from Gaston County, and it cites up to 220 jobs (WCNC Charlotte). The 2023 plan cited 428 direct jobs.

Rio Tinto and the Bessemer City plant

Bessemer City, in Gaston County, also hosts a lithium chemicals plant. The site of about 900 acres at 1115 Kings Mountain Highway is permitted as Livent USA Corporation, and state regulators held a hearing on a draft hazardous waste operating permit for it in October 2025 (NC DEQ fact sheet). Livent’s business is now part of Arcadium Lithium, which Rio Tinto bought for about US$6.7 billion (Rio Tinto). It is a processing site, not a mine.

How much lithium does North Carolina hold

The USGS published two assessments of lithium pegmatites in the Appalachians in spring 2026. The one for the southern Appalachians, which covers North Carolina, counts 1,589 thousand tonnes of Li2O already identified at the Carolina Lithium and Kings Mountain deposits. It puts the median undiscovered lithium at 2,240 thousand tonnes of Li2O, with at least 130 thousand tonnes at 90% confidence and 10,700 thousand tonnes at 10% confidence. After an economic filter, the median recoverable amount is 1,430 thousand tonnes (1.43 million), and the paper says North and South Carolina are likely to hold most of it (USGS, Natural Resources Research, May 2026). The USGS did not split that figure between the two states. A separate paper covers the northern Appalachians (Maine, New Hampshire and neighbouring states), not North Carolina.

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Battery-grade lithium carbonate price

Annual average, real US$ per tonne

Read these as estimates of what has not yet been found, not as reserves. Whether any of it is mined depends on price: the chart above shows the annual average battery-grade lithium carbonate price falling from US$63,700 a tonne in 2022 to an estimated US$9,000 in 2025 (USGS, 2026). The USGS puts United States lithium reserves, the part proven economic, at 4.4 million tonnes of contained lithium, against 37 million tonnes worldwide (USGS, 2026). A Blue Ridge Public Radio fact-check notes that the commercial lithium deposits are in Cleveland and Gaston counties, not in the western mountains (BPR News, October 2024).

What spodumene prices mean for a North Carolina mine

Hard-rock mines sell spodumene concentrate, and the price swings widely. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence assessed concentrate at 6% Li2O at US$2,254 a tonne FOB Australia (priced at the loading port) on 2 September 2026, and the USGS puts the 2025 range at roughly US$800 to US$970 a tonne (LithiumChart, citing Benchmark and USGS). Elevra’s Quebec mine shows what that swing does to a producer. In the June 2026 quarter its realised price fell 37% to US$921 a tonne because the last cargoes were priced on an older, lagged formula, while its unit operating cost was US$907 a tonne (Elevra, 28 July 2026). In the September 2026 quarter the same mine sold concentrate at an estimated US$1,276 a tonne, priced from spot indices at 30 September with final pricing to settle in the December quarter, and unit cost fell to US$780 a tonne (Elevra, 27 October 2026). Both North Carolina projects would sell into the same market.

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Elevra’s Quebec mine: price against cost

US$ per dry tonne of concentrate sold, years ending 30 June

Use the calculator to test a project of your own. Enter your own ore tonnage, grade, recovery and price; the defaults are round examples, not data for any named project. A rough check: ore tonnes times grade times recovery, divided by the concentrate grade, gives concentrate tonnes. Revenue then follows from the price. This ignores royalties, tax, shipping and the cost of building the mine.

Permits a lithium mine needs in North Carolina

A mine here needs several approvals, and each has its own regulator:

• State mining permit. The Mining Act of 1971 requires a permit and a reclamation bond; the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources decides within 60 days of a complete application (or within 30 days after a public hearing, if one is held) and bases the fee on the acreage covered (NC DEQ mining permit application). Enforcement is real: in August 2025 the state denied a permit after a Watauga County court found a company had been mining without one (NC DEQ, August 2025).
• Air permit. Large sources need a Title V permit, and emissions above set thresholds trigger a Prevention of Significant Deterioration review, as at Carolina Lithium.
• Federal review. Kings Mountain needed a Department of Energy environmental assessment because a federal grant funds part of the project.
• Local zoning. The county decides whether a mine fits the land’s zoning. This step can decide a project even after state permits are in hand.

The Carolina Lithium timeline shows how long this takes: a mining permit in 2024, an air permit hearing in October 2026 and county zoning still ahead. If you own land or a claim near the belt, our note on spodumene pegmatites and claims explains what a pegmatite target looks like before any drilling.

▶ Farmonaut video: why good rock can still be unmineable when the land above it is blocked. · 2:05

Land, water and neighbours: what the filings show

The federal assessment for Kings Mountain counts 45 distinct wetlands covering 40.24 acres on the site, and it identifies suitable habitat for the threatened dwarf-flowered heartleaf plant. Saprolite, the soft weathered rock above the pegmatite, would be removed first and stored in waste facilities. Albemarle says it is also running a voluntary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.

Near Carolina Lithium, residents have raised concerns about blasting, the water table, truck traffic and property values. One neighbour on a road beside the site said the pit would sit across the road from his home (WCNC Charlotte, October 2026). The state’s draft air permit requires emissions testing and reporting. Landowners deciding on a lease should ask for the blast-vibration limits, the groundwater monitoring plan, the reclamation bond amount and the closure plan in writing, and should check the county’s zoning for the parcel.

▶ Farmonaut video: the 7 environmental impacts of mining, explained in clay. · 2:31

Other mining companies in North Carolina

Lithium is a small part of the state’s mining. The USGS ranks North Carolina 13th among the states for nonfuel minerals, with an estimated US$2.68 billion produced in 2025, or 2.4% of the United States total. Its main products are phosphate rock, high-purity quartz, construction sand and gravel, industrial sand and crushed stone (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2026, Table 3). The USGS also ranks it third among the states for the value of crushed stone, behind Texas and Pennsylvania.

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Value of nonfuel minerals produced, selected Southeast states

US$ million, 2025 preliminary

• Nutrien (NYSE and TSX: NTR) at Aurora. Its Aurora phosphate mine in Beaufort County moved all three draglines to a new mining area in 2024 and early 2025, which the company expects to extend mining for 20 years (Nutrien, July 2025). In November 2025 Nutrien began a review of its phosphate business, which could include a sale, and said as of February 2026 that Aurora remained business as usual (Washington Daily News).
• Sibelco and a second producer at Spruce Pine. The USGS says two companies produced high-purity quartz around Spruce Pine in 2025, and that Spruce Pine quartz is more than 99.999% pure (USGS, 2026). Sibelco restarted production after Hurricane Helene in 2024 (Sibelco).
• Feldspar, mica and pyrophyllite producers. The USGS counts four of the eight US feldspar mines and plants in North Carolina, and two companies mining pyrophyllite there.
• Quarry operators. Crushed stone is one of the state’s principal commodities in the USGS table. Martin Marietta runs a quarry beside the Kings Mountain pit.

The chart compares the state with its Southeast neighbours. Phosphate and quartz give North Carolina a mix that differs from the cement-and-stone economies around it.

How to check a mining company before you invest or lease land

If you are looking at a North Carolina mining company’s stock, or a lease offer from one, start with facts that can be checked:

1. Confirm the entity and ticker. Search the exchange filings (SEC EDGAR for US listings, the ASX announcements platform for Australian ones). Piedmont’s old ticker PLL no longer exists.
2. Read the technical report. Look for the reserve table and its date, and for the mine life. A resource is not a reserve.
3. Search the permit record. NC DEQ publishes mining permit documents online by company and permit number; compare the acres permitted with the acres in the company’s plan.
4. Check zoning and land ownership with the county, because a state permit does not override local land use rules.
5. Check the price assumptions. Compare the company’s assumed concentrate price with dated market assessments, as in the section above.

This page gives facts about companies, not advice. Listings and holdings change; confirm each in the filing.

Screening North Carolina ground with satellite data

Pegmatites in the Piedmont are often covered by forest, thick saprolite and farmland, so imagery cannot see the lithium itself. What it can do is map surface clues such as altered rock, drainage lines and existing workings, so that a claim owner or consultant can rank ground before paying for soil sampling or drilling. Farmonaut turns a licence or claim polygon into a satellite screening map of exploration targets, ahead of any resource estimate. Our post on satellite-based mineral detection explains the method, and you can request a quote for a specific area. For spodumene in other terrain, see lithium in Australia.

▶ Farmonaut video: how satellite data is used to screen for lithium, shown on a Nigerian case study. · 10:49

The Carolina tin-spodumene belt is a pegmatite belt: see pegmatite deposits.

Frequently asked questions

Which companies are mining lithium in North Carolina right now?

None. No lithium mine in the state is in production. Albemarle has federal permits for a restart at Kings Mountain, and Elevra Lithium has a state mining permit for Carolina Lithium but needs an air permit and county zoning.

Is Piedmont Lithium still a company?

Not under that name. Piedmont merged with Sayona on 29 August 2025 and the combined company is Elevra Lithium (ASX: ELV; Nasdaq: ELVR). The state’s September 2026 notice names Piedmont Lithium Carolinas Inc. as owner and operator of the Gaston County project.

Is the Albemarle Kings Mountain mine open?

The pit is not mining ore yet. Albemarle completed federal permitting on 30 March 2026 and is still seeking state and local approvals. The conversion plant and research centre on the same site already operate.

Does BlackRock own lithium mines in North Carolina?

No. The state’s notice names Piedmont Lithium Carolinas Inc. as owner and operator of Carolina Lithium, and the federal assessment names Albemarle as sponsor of Kings Mountain; neither names BlackRock. Asset managers such as BlackRock hold shares of listed companies through index funds, which is a stake in the company, not ownership of its mine or its permits.

Where are the lithium mines in NC?

The lithium deposits are in the Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt in the southwestern Piedmont. The two projects are at Kings Mountain in Cleveland County, about 30 miles west of Charlotte, and in Gaston County near Bessemer City. A Blue Ridge Public Radio fact-check found no lithium deposits in the western mountains.

What is the Albemarle mine in North Carolina?

It is the former Foote Mineral pit at Kings Mountain, which Albemarle bought in 2015. Albemarle plans to deepen the pit and process 3.25 million short tons of ore a year to make 420,000 to 440,000 short tons of spodumene concentrate.

How much lithium is in North Carolina?

Elevra reported 18.26 million tonnes of probable reserves at 1.10% Li2O at Carolina Lithium at the end of 2023. The USGS (May 2026) counts 1,589 thousand tonnes of Li2O already identified at Carolina Lithium and Kings Mountain together, and estimates a further median 1.43 million tonnes of undiscovered, economically recoverable Li2O across the southern Appalachians, most of it likely in North and South Carolina.

Do you need a permit to mine in North Carolina?

Yes. The Mining Act of 1971 requires a state permit and a reclamation bond, and air, water, federal and local zoning approvals may also apply. The state decides a complete mining application within 60 days, or within 30 days after a public hearing if one is held.

Which North Carolina mining companies have listed shares?

Listed companies with North Carolina mining or lithium assets named in this guide are Albemarle (NYSE: ALB), Elevra Lithium (ASX: ELV; Nasdaq: ELVR), Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO) and Nutrien (NYSE and TSX: NTR). Spruce Pine quartz is produced by two companies, including Sibelco. This is a list of facts, not a recommendation.

Which towns in North Carolina are tied to mining?

Kings Mountain and Bessemer City for lithium, Spruce Pine for high-purity quartz, feldspar and mica, and Aurora for phosphate rock.

Can I lease my land to a lithium company?

Companies do buy or lease land inside permit boundaries, but only the owner can agree. Ask for the lease term, royalty basis, reclamation obligations and the permit status in writing, and take legal advice before signing.