Lithium ore is a raw material used to produce lithium, which is a valuable element for batteries, glass, and aluminum products: Definition Lithium ore is a hard rock deposit that's mined from the earth. It's also known as hard-rock lithium. Minerals The most important minerals for lithium mining are spodumene and petalite, which are found in granitic pegmatites. Other minerals that contain lithium include lepidolite, amblygonite, eucryptite, zinnwaldite, and triphylite.