Lithium is a metal added in Worlds Part II. You find it in purple-class systems, usually on ocean planets. This post is about finding it. For stats and every refiner recipe, see the item page.
What lithium is
The in-game description calls it an uncommon local metallic extract, found only in purple systems and typically on ocean planets. You scan mineral formations with the Analysis Visor or mine the large deposits.
According to the Worlds Part II patch notes, gas giants and waterworlds each got their own terrain deposit material. Crystallised Helium is the gas giant one and Lithium is the ocean one. The Fandom wiki’s Waterworld page says Lithium only ever appears on waterworlds, while the in-game text just says “typically” ocean planets. I’d trust the game text here, but waterworlds are the safest place to start either way.
How to reach a purple system
Purple-class stars are new systems. Hello Games added them without regenerating existing planets, so warping around old red, green, and blue systems won’t turn one up.
You need the Atlantid Drive, which lets your ship pass through the dissonant space around purple stars. It’s crafted from Indium, Atlantideum, and Living Glass. The story path to it is In Stellar Multitudes.
Every planet in a purple system has Quartzite, which you’ll want if you plan to refine Lithium instead of diving for it.
How to find an ocean world
Purple systems have two kinds of planet worth checking.
Waterworlds are entirely ocean. You can’t land on one without Aqua-jets, the aquatic landing upgrade.
The other planets in those systems can still have very deep water right next to normal land. Start with the waterworlds, then try the planets with the most ocean.
If you can’t land on a waterworld yet, skip to the refining section. You can still make Lithium in a Refiner.
How to harvest lithium
Once you’re on the planet, use the Analysis Visor to spot large deposits and mineral formations. Worlds Part II also put large resource deposits underwater on every planet, with extra-rich seams in the deepest water.
The Multi-Tool’s Terrain Manipulator handles most deposits. Underwater, the Nautilon’s Dredging Laser does the job, which is a little funny since Lithium is one of its ingredients.
If you’re going deep, bring spare oxygen and a Pressure Membrane. Deep water drains oxygen and life support faster.
How to refine lithium without diving
The recipe is 1 Quartzite + 1 Crystallised Helium.
Quartzite is everywhere in purple systems and Crystallised Helium comes from gas giants. If you can warp to purple stars but don’t have Aqua-jets yet, this is the way to go: grab Helium on the gas giant, Quartzite from any rock, and run it through a Refiner.
The item page also lists recipes that turn Lithium back into Helium, along with the rest of the refining tree.
What lithium is used for
The Nautilon’s Dredging Laser, added in Worlds Part II for excavating underwater terrain, needs Lithium.
The water Reality Anchor takes 200 Lithium and 160 Quartzite. The other Reality Anchors use different local materials, so don’t mix them up.
Lithium also refines into Helium, Activated Quartzite, and a few other products. The full list is on the Lithium page.
Sources
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
In purple-class star systems, usually on ocean planets. The in-game description says purple systems only. Worlds Part II gave waterworlds their own terrain deposit materials, and Lithium is one of them.
Install an Atlantid Drive on your starship. Worlds Part II added purple-class stars as brand new systems rather than regenerating old ones. The In Stellar Multitudes story is the official way to unlock them.
Yes. Refine 1 Quartzite plus 1 Crystallised Helium. Every planet in a purple system has Quartzite, and Crystallised Helium comes from gas giants.
To land on a true waterworld, yes. Aqua-jets are the aquatic landing upgrade. If you can already reach a purple system, you can skip the waterworld and refine Lithium from Quartzite and Crystallised Helium.
It goes into the Nautilon's Dredging Laser (which Worlds Part II added for digging underwater terrain) and the water Reality Anchor.