Lithium  carbonate  is industrially  the most  important lithium  compound and the starting material for  most  of  the  other  lithium salts.  It  is  formed  in  the processing  of  lithium minerals and brines. Enriched  and calcined  lithium  ore  (spodumene)  is  digested e.g.  with concentrated  sulfuric acid at  > 250 °C,  reached with water and  finally  reacted with  sodium carbonate (see Schema  in Fig. 3.1-1).  -containing brines  are evaporated,  the lithium  chloride  purified  and converted  with  sodium carbonate into (see Schema in Fig. 3.1-1).

Lithium carbonate is utilized as a starting material  for the manufacture of all  other  lithium  compounds  and  in  large quantities  in the manufacture  of aluminum by  melt electrolysis  (ca.  25%  of  the  total  lithium  consumption). Lithium carbonate is also used as a flux in  the glass, enamel and  ceramic industries, which  accounts for a  further  ca. 25%  of  lithium  consumption. Glasses  with high lithium content  (on the  basis  of  lithium aluminosilicate)  are  as  a result of  their low thermal  expansion coefficients virtually fireproof.  In  psychiatry high purity lithium  carbonate is utilized for the treatment  of manic-depressive complaints.