In the high-stakes world of resource discovery, sometimes Mother Nature drops a bombshell – literally. An ancient supervolcano that formed some 16 million years ago, straddling the border of Nevada and Oregon, might be harboring a secret treasure. Recent research hints that the McDermitt Caldera could be sitting on what may just be the world’s largest lithium deposit.

The numbers? A staggering 20 to 40 million metric tons of lithium are potentially buried in clay throughout this long-dormant volcano. If the name ‘lithium’ rings a bell, it’s because this metal is the pulse of modern technology, powering everything from your smartphone to those sleek electric cars.

The aftermath of this study’s release was nothing short of a financial tremor. Lithium Americas, the company that not-so-coincidentally sponsored this research, saw its shares rally. The stock vaulted up 7% on Monday following the study’s unveiling, then enjoyed another 4% bump on Tuesday. Notably, the company’s Thacker Pass lithium mine, poised to be operational by 2026, is nestled within the southern reaches of the McDermitt Caldera.

However, here’s where the plot thickens: even with a possible world-record lithium stash underfoot, there’s no guarantee it’ll be cost-effective to mine it. But if this gamble pays off, and if Lithium Americas’ belief in the magnitude of the deposit stands true, the ramifications could be global.

With lithium’s demand skyrocketing, this discovery might just position the US to shift gears in its lithium quest, lessening reliance on imports. It’s worth noting that before this revelation, the world’s premier lithium reservoir was believed to reside beneath a Bolivian salt flat.

Entrepreneurs and investors, strap in. The McDermitt Caldera could soon be the epicenter of a seismic shift in the global lithium market. And if all pans out, the energy game might never be the same again.