Lithium Energy Hits Lithium in Northern Solaroz Concession
THE DRILL SERGEANT: Lithium Energy (ASX: LEL) has been busy drilling at the company’s Solaroz lithium brine project in Argentina.
The project is located next to Allkem’s Lithium Facility in the Salar de Olaroz basin, smack bang in the middle of South America’s world renowned ‘Lithium Triangle’.
Lithium Energy latest efforts involve drillhole 7 (SOZDD007), a step-out drillhole from the current initial maiden JORC Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 3.3 million tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) at Solaroz.
This hole was drilled to test conductive brines LEL had identified via geophysics in what it described as a “relatively large, previously undrilled Northern Block area”.
Assay results have confirmed an initial 24m intersection of lithium-rich brines with 386mg/l lithium (from a depth of 209 to 233 metres) in sandstone in the upper aquifer.
Further brine samples (at 233 to 257 metres and 281 to 305 metres) show increasing densities, with assays for these samples pending.
Lithium Energy stressed the importance of the confirmation of lithium mineralisation at the Payo 1 concession saying it confirms lithium mineralisation in the Northern concession block which has not been drilled to date and was not included in the current MRE at Solaroz.
‘We are extremely pleased to have encountered lithium mineralisation at drillhole 7 In the Payo 1 concession at Solaroz, as this highlights the potential for further expansion of lithium mineralisation at the Solaroz Lithium Project – which already holds a significant and strategic lithium resource,’ Lithium Energy executive chairman William Johnson said in the comapn’s ASX announcement.
“The Payo 1 concession is located north of the main Solaroz concession area and has previously not been drilled.
“Payo 1 was therefore not included in our maiden Mineral Resource Estimate.
“The large size of Payo 1 (1,973 hectares) indicates that the potential now exists for a significant amount of new lithium mineralisation to be delineated here.
“Furthermore, drilling at Payo 1 has now encountered a massive halite layer, which is highly significant.
“Previous drilling by the company at Solaroz indicates that the halite layer typically acts as a ‘cap’ above the company’s primary target Deep Sand Unit, where the highest grades and volumes of lithium are found.
“Encountering this massive halite layer at Payo 1 is a positive indicator for encountering a Deep Sand Unit and further lithium mineralisation at depth in this new very large area.”
TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE
