It is not exactly true, nor exactly false.
Cobalt, nickel, lithium are everywhere.
But only certain places have them in an abundance worth mining.
There are several places where i believe we can find mine-able lithium in Komifornia. But no mining company is looking because it would be impossible to get permits and mineral rights for it.
As an example, some of the BIGGEST gold deposits are left untouched in California.
People know its there, but the govern-cement has locked it up.