The lithium market has experienced an unprecedented boom in recent years like a “golden age” and is one of the fastest growing raw material markets in the world. The fast growing demand for lithium is mainly related to the increase in the production of lithium-ion batteries used in electric or hybrid vehicles and portable electronic equipment, and to a lesser extent, in other strategic fields (military, nuclear technologies). This was reflected in a significant change in the structure of consumption, an increase in international trade and in the price of lithium raw materials. Moreover, in 2018 lithium was listed as a critical element for the national security and economy of the United States, and in 2020 it was also listed as a critical raw material for the European Union economy. It is also a time of increased exploration for new deposits, as well as mining processing and recycling. As a result, global lithium reserves have doubled in the last six years. All this prompted the authors to prepare an article in which the sources of lithium minerals and their resources, the basic factors determining the economic situation on the market, their prices and the possibilities of recycling and substitution are presented and assessed. Attention is also paid to the role of companies operating in Poland as significant partners on the European market of lithium-ion batteries. Lithium oxide and hydroxide and lithium carbonate are the main lithium raw materials used in Poland. In the absence of the country having its own deposits, they are imported, and the main suppliers are Chile, Western European countries and Russia.

There are numerous manifestations of ore mineralization in the Polish part of the Carpathians. In the past there were episodes of mining activity too. Iron ores were mined in Tatra Mountains and Outer Carpathians) as well as a small scale exploitation of polymetallic lodes was undertaken (Tatra, Pieniny). Currently there is a lack documented deposits of metallic ores in this area. Former deposits were of small size, in addition, often significantly exhausted and did not meet current quality requirements. The last exploration works for ore deposits were carried out in the twentieth century, especially in the period after World War II. However, but they have not led to discovery of new deposits. The increasing demand for metals and the development of technologies allowing the use of ore with low levels of metals and profitable exploitation of small “hidden” deposits gives rise to reconsider the possibility of occurrence of ore deposits in the Carpathians. This paper focuses on two major topics. The first one is a discussion and analysis of available source materials and data on the old deposits and identified occurrences of ore mineralization. An attempt their interpretation in relation to the contemporary models of deposits was made. The current models geotectonic construction of the Carpathians and their development, was taken into account. The second topic, based on the results presented analyzes and thoughts, focuses to select some areas, which are prospective for the occurrence of ore deposits, especially deposits located at greater depths than previously sought. In these areas (the Bystre thrust, the area from Krynica to Wysowa as well as the zone with andesite occurrences in the Pieniny Klippen Belt) it is recommended to perform exploration, both in terms of their deep geological conditions as well as some geochemical surveys, using modern research methods.

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