---
title: Lithium Mining and Processing (Jequitinhonha Valley)
type: technology
url: "https://www.envisioning.com/research/stratum/brazil__lithium-mining-and-processing-jequitinhonha-valley"
hub: stratum
summary: "Brazil's \"Lithium Valley\" in Minas Gerais holds significant spodumene deposits — multiple mining projects and a BYD acquisition are positioning Brazil as a lithium supplier for the EV battery..."
---

# Lithium Mining and Processing (Jequitinhonha Valley)

Brazil's "Lithium Valley" in Minas Gerais holds significant spodumene deposits — multiple mining projects and a BYD acquisition are positioning Brazil as a lithium supplier for the EV battery...
- Technology Readiness Level: 7/9
- Impact: 3/5
- Investment: 4/5
The Jequitinhonha Valley in Minas Gerais contains Brazil's largest concentration of lithium-bearing pegmatite deposits. Multiple companies are developing mines and processing plants: Sigma Lithium operates at Grota do Cirilo, Lithium Ionic's Bandeira project has a feasibility study showing 177,000 tonnes/year of spodumene concentrate over 18.5 years (NPV of .45B), and Atlas Lithium is commissioning a processing plant.

BYD acquired lithium mining rights in the region in early 2025, signaling intent to vertically integrate its EV battery supply chain from Brazilian mines. This mirrors BYD's strategy in China: controlling raw materials to reduce dependency on third-party suppliers.

Brazil's lithium reserves are modest compared to Chile, Argentina, or Australia, but the hard-rock (spodumene) deposits in Minas Gerais offer advantages: faster permitting than South American brine operations, proximity to port infrastructure, and lower water requirements. The government is pushing for domestic value addition — processing concentrate into battery-grade lithium compounds in Brazil rather than exporting raw ore.

---
Source: Envisioning — Technology Research Institute (https://www.envisioning.com/research/stratum/brazil__lithium-mining-and-processing-jequitinhonha-valley)