The New $11 Billion White Gold Rush in Australia

Lithium has become the world’s new white gold, and Australia is emerging as one of the most critical suppliers in the global battery metals race. In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, the Tabba Tabba lithium deposit is transforming from a forgotten tantalum field into a world-class hard rock lithium project with the potential to generate billions of dollars in value. This article explores how Tabba Tabba was discovered, why its lithium was overlooked for decades, how its unique geology concentrated spodumene-rich pegmatites, and what its development means for Australia’s role in the electric vehicle and energy transition boom.