GeoFrame, a Houston-based energy and mining company, has announced plans to develop a large-scale lithium extraction project near Mount Vernon, aiming to make the area the largest single-source lithium producer in the United States.
The initiative is expected to generate over 100 new jobs and position Mount Vernon as a key player in the nation’s energy transition. The project centers around a recently discovered lithium-rich brine deposit located just outside the city.
The project aims to secure a domestic supply of battery-grade lithium carbonate, a critical component in electric vehicle and energy storage batteries, amid growing global competition and tightening Chinese export controls.
GeoFrame said the facility will be the first in the United States to extract lithium carbonate from the Smackover Formation—an extensive, porous, and permeable limestone aquifer that hosts vast volumes of mineral-rich brine.
The company plans to tap into these lithium-rich brines using direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology powered by geothermal energy. The method was developed by Australia’s Ekosolve in partnership with the University of Melbourne.
Backed by Halliburton as its drilling partner, GeoFrame expects to begin production in early 2026 and scale up to 83,500 tonnes annually by 2029—enough to meet 100% of the country’s current demand. Spanning more than 7,400 acres in East Texas, the site is expected to serve as a model for eco-conscious extraction. Unlike traditional methods that strain freshwater supplies and cause environmental damage, GeoFrame’s system boasts up to 95% recovery rates with significantly reduced water use and no harmful pollutants.
Local officials have voiced strong support for the project, highlighting potential benefits such as expanded infrastructure, increased tax revenue, and long-term economic diversification for the region.
The timing is critical, as China imposes new restrictions on lithium exports amid a tariffs war with the U.S., and Washington scrambles to shore up domestic supply chains. Business.
