Lithium Americas in talks with US, GM for Nevada mine; shares soar

** U.S.-listed shares of Lithium Americas LAC jump 70% to $5.22 in premarket trading

** Reuters reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration is seeking an equity stake of as much as 10% in LAC as part of talks over a $2.26 bln government loan for co's Thacker Pass lithium mine

** LAC on Wednesday confirmed it is in discussions with the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors GM - its partner in the Thacker Pass JV - regarding first draw on the $2.26 billion loan

** The company did not comment on whether U.S. government is mulling the 10% equity stake in co

** Nevada-based mine expected to be Western Hemisphere's largest source of lithium

** The Trump administration has recently been acquiring stakes in U.S. companies, the latest being Intel INTC and MP Materials MP

** LAC had split its North American and Argentine businesses in November to boost focus on the mine

** News also lifts shares of other lithium miners: Albemarle ALB up 4%, Sigma Lithium SGML up 5.3%, U.S.-listed shares of SQM SQM_A rise 2.6%

** Stock has gained about 3% YTD, till last close