Mining method selection in lithium-bearing pegmatite deposits: A global assessment integrating geological, geometrical, and geomechanical parameters

Lithium-bearing pegmatites are an important hard-rock source of lithium for the global energy transition. This study evaluates mining methods applied to lithium-bearing pegmatite deposits worldwide, considering operating mines and projects at feasibility and development stages. A review of peer-reviewed literature, technical reports, and feasibility studies was conducted to compile a global dataset of 55 mining operations and projects available up to February 2025. The analysis examined the relationships between deposit geological, geometrical, and geomechanical characteristics and the mining methods adopted or proposed. Results indicate the predominance of open-pit mining, with 81% of active mines employing surface methods. However, projects at the development and feasibility stages suggest a possible increase in the use of underground and combined mining approaches as deeper resources are targeted. The irregular geometry, variable thickness and dip, and geomechanical heterogeneity of lithium-bearing pegmatites often require flexible mining strategies and, in some cases, the combination of multiple methods. In the analyzed dataset, longhole open stoping is the most common underground method, applied or considered in 61% of underground operations and projects, frequently associated with backfilling. These findings offer a systematic synthesis linking geological, geometrical, and geomechanical characteristics to mining method selection, supporting technical decision making in lithium pegmatite mining projects.