Geotechnical, economic, social, and environmental dimensions of direct lithium extraction (DLE) from Smackover brines in Arkansas

Aaron Malone, Alannah Brett, Elisheba Spiller, Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Linda Battalora and Elizabeth Holley, Frances Fitzgerald, Caroline Ruppert, Andres Reyes and Julia Jann write about how the global scramble for critical minerals and the US push to increase domestic production have generated interest around the potential for direct lithium extraction from oilfield brines (OB-DLE) in Arkansas.  February 20, 2026.