Only days ago, Hurricane Helene swept through North Carolina and it got me thinking. About hurricanes, weather manipulation and lithium mining. So here we go again. Down the rabbit hole.
In 1997, then-U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen acknowledged that the government possesses technology capable of manipulating weather patterns, including earthquakes and volcanic activity. However, the U.S. government has imposed restrictive non-disclosure policies on employees of the National Weather Service.
Project Cirrus was an early attempt to modify weather, specifically to manipulate hurricanes, conducted by the United States after World War II. It was initiated in 1947 as a collaboration between the U.S. Army Signal Corps, the Office of Naval Research, and General Electric, with Nobel Prize-winning scientist Irving Langmuir involved.
The project aimed to control and potentially weaken hurricanes by "seeding" clouds with dry ice (solid carbon dioxide). The idea was to alter the cloud's microphysical properties and disrupt the storm system by inducing precipitation. The scientists hypothesised that introducing particles like dry ice would cause supercooled water in the storm clouds to freeze, potentially releasing latent heat, changing the dynamics of the storm, and reducing its intensity.
But things didn't go to plan.
One of the most famous incidents involving Project Cirrus occurred on October 13, 1947, when researchers attempted to seed a hurricane off the coast of Florida. They dropped about 80 pounds of dry ice into the storm. Initially, it appeared the experiment might have worked, as the hurricane changed course. However, instead of weakening, the hurricane made an unexpected turn and headed toward Savannah, Georgia, causing significant damage.
Many blamed Project Cirrus for altering the hurricane's path, and the project faced severe public criticism. Though scientists could not definitively prove that their actions caused the storm’s change in direction, the controversy cast doubt on the project's methods. The U.S. government discontinued Project Cirrus in its wake, though research into weather modification continued in subsequent projects.
Curious microwave imagery captured in October 2012 appeared to show a concentrated energy beam immediately preceding Hurricane Sandy's resurgence from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane - and its subsequent, unexplained left turn toward landfall in New Jersey.
But back to North Carolina.
The growing demand for alternative energy has increased the need for lithium. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the United States possesses over 6 million tons of identified lithium reserves, the majority of which are located in Kings Mountain, North Carolina - believed to be home to one of the world's largest lithium deposits. However, the local residents of Kings Mountain have resisted efforts to transform their quiet communities into active lithium mining operations.
“People in Cherryville have been pushing against a proposed lithium mine for the last several years, but everyone we spoke with here said
it's too divisive of an issue to share their opinion on camera. Cherryville is a small, quiet town.”
~ Local news reporter
“I think it's good that we keep it small.”
~ Anonymous resident
“So quiet, many don't feel comfortable speaking out against Piedmont Lithium's proposed mining operation nearby.”
~ Local news reporter
“I think we're a silent majority. I think a lot of people are afraid to say anything about it because they are bringing a lot to the town
as far as money.”
~ Anonymous resident
The lithium deposits at Kings Mountain, North Carolina, have been a historically significant source of lithium, particularly in the mid-20th century, and are now gaining renewed attention as lithium demand rises due to its critical role in battery technology.
Kings Mountain sits atop the Piedmont Lithium Belt, one of the richest lithium-bearing regions in the United States. The area’s lithium deposits are primarily found in spodumene, a lithium-rich mineral that is mined from pegmatite formations. These pegmatites formed millions of years ago as magma cooled deep beneath the Earth's surface, allowing large lithium crystals to develop.
From the 1950s to the 1980s, Kings Mountain was one of the world’s leading sources of lithium. During this period, lithium was primarily used in the production of ceramics, glass, and lubricants. Mining in the region helped establish the U.S. as a major player in the global lithium market.
Companies such as Foote Mineral Company and Lithium Corporation of America operated significant lithium mining and processing facilities in the area. However, by the 1980s, lithium production shifted to cheaper sources in South America and Australia, particularly from lithium brine deposits in places like Chile and Argentina, leading to a decline in U.S. lithium mining operations.With the increasing demand for lithium for use in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, energy storage systems, and other high-tech applications, interest in Kings Mountain’s lithium reserves has resurfaced. The U.S. is actively seeking to reduce its dependence on foreign lithium sources, and Kings Mountain, with its rich history and existing infrastructure, is seen as a strategic location for boosting domestic lithium production.
One notable player is Piedmont Lithium, a company that has been working to revive lithium mining operations in the Kings Mountain area. Piedmont has secured contracts with EV manufacturers like Tesla, reflecting the critical role that North American lithium deposits may play in the future of clean energy and technology.
The Kings Mountain lithium deposits are being revisited not only because of the growing demand but also due to concerns about supply chain security and the environmental impacts of lithium extraction in foreign countries. Reviving these deposits could help diversify lithium sourcing for U.S. industries and create a more resilient supply chain for this key resource.
Last year, the Department of Defense entered a $90 million agreement with Albemarle Corporation. The goal is to increase domestic production
of lithium for the nation's battery supply chain. This production will be based out of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, starting by 2025.
Notably, this area is currently experiencing severe flooding, described as "biblical" in proportion.
No doubt a coincidence and simply another one of those " baffling " situations..............................
