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Current Exploration
The evaluation program at the Sal de Vida project has advanced rapidly, with the completion of due diligence sampling, two surface trenching campaigns covering more than 120km2, and a gravity survey.
Drill testing is on-going, and laboratory evaporation tests are underway. Results from the first two rotary drill holes on the project have confirmed the presence of lithium - potassium brine bearing aquifers to a minimum depth of 60 metres. Two test wells have been developed to supply brine for evaporation testing, pump tests, and other chemical tests. The brine concentrations averaged 706 mg/L (590 ppm) lithium and 6,900 mg/L (0.58%) potassium, and have a 2.1 magnesium to lithium (Mg:Li) ratio. These results are being followed-up with core drilling.
"...The results from these test wells in one small portion of the basin demonstrate the significant volumetric potential of the lithium and potash-rich brines we have been sampling at surface..."
~ Lithium One President and CEO Patrick Highsmith
Results to date
Surface sampling has included brines collected from systematic trench sampling on 1.5 to 4 km sample spacing as well as due diligence auger drill samples on nominal 1 km spacing. The samples are carefully collected under the supervision of geologists and/or hydrologists. The field teams measure conductivity, density, and other parameters at every site.
To date surface sampling has been completed over approximately one third of the Company's land holdings.
Analytical results bring the cumulative average values over more than 225 km2 of near-surface
brine to 765 mg/L (650 ppm) lithium, 8,976 mg/L (0.76 %) potassium, and a Mg:Li ratio of 1.77.
The results continue to closely resemble the brine chemistry reported by FMC Corporation at the
neighbouring Fenix Lithium Brine operation on Salar del Hombre Muerto.
Figure 1. Li Assay Results from Near
Surface Brine Samples. (Click to open)
Drilling
Results from surface sampling were integrated with geological information and the gravity results to design a first phase well drilling program with the objective of providing information about the reservoir characteristics and brine chemistry at depth on the east side of Salar del Hombre Muerto. In addition to brine and cuttings sampling, the Company will also conduct down-hole logging, including natural gamma, neutron, density, and sonic methods. The drilling, sampling, geological logging, and down-hole testing will conform with procedures developed by the Company's hydrogeological consultants.
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Figure 2. Gravity Survey results, with
near surface Li in brine assays and
targeted drill holes (Click to open)
The initial drill program at Sal de Vida consists of at least 10 rotary drill holes targeting depths between 50 and 100 metres, sited using the results of the pit sampling program and the gravity survey.
The first holes were located in the southwest portion of the property, in an area referred to as the "South Basin". Two holes have been drilled to target depth and developed as test wells. Both of the test wells penetrated near-surface, saturated, sandy aquifers; and one of the two wells encountered halite (table salt) from approximately 35 metres depth. This is the first known drill intercept of halite on the eastern side of Hombre Muerto.
The neighbouring Fenix mine produces much of its lithium brine from thick deposits of halite.
The results for the first two wells are summarized below.
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Lithium (mg/L) |
Potassium (mg/L) |
Density (gms/cm3) |
Mg:Li |
| SV10_03 0 - 30m |
647 |
6,172 |
1.20 |
2.00 |
| SV10_03 30 - 60m |
850 |
8,109 |
1.21 |
2.01 |
| SV10_04 0 - 30m |
633 |
6,045 |
1.16 |
2.04 |
| SV10_04 30 - 60m |
692 |
7,605 |
1.21 |
2.37 |
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These encouraging results are being followed up with a core drilling program designed to test porosity and brine chemistry at discrete intervals in up to 30 drill holes throughout the property. A custom-modified core drill mobilized to the site June 14.
Lithium One continues to employ a rigorous protocol for sample collection and quality control as designed by the Company's qualified persons. See Company news release dated 14 January, 2010 for a complete discussion of quality control procedures and reporting units.
The systematic evaluation of the Sal de Vida Brine Project continues according to the $15 million work program approved by the Company and its new partner, KORES. KORES is earning into the project by funding this program, retroactive to May 7, 2010 and through delivery of a definitive feasibility study in approximately 15 months. Activities scheduled for the third quarter of 2010 include: core drilling for brine analysis and porosity testing, monitoring and sampling of the 12-month pan evaporation tests, geophysical surveys, environmental impact reporting, and an environmental baseline study.
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