A massive discovery beneath California’s Salton Sea could reshape America’s energy future. Scientists have confirmed the presence of 18 million tons of high-grade lithium, often called “white gold,” one of the most valuable minerals for powering electric vehicles, batteries, and clean-energy storage systems. With an estimated value of $540 billion, this deposit is one of the largest ever found in the United States. • Lithium is essential for producing EV batteries, smartphones, grid-storage syst