Anson Resources discovers artesian brine flow at Green River Lithium Project in Utah

A review of research and surveys of the Green River project area has highlighted the presence of numerous saltwater geysers and springs, with pressures similar to those at Anson Resources’ nearby Paradox Lithium Project.

Anson (ASX:ASN) says these results are significantly important and when combined with Drill Stem Tests (DST) from historic wells within the Green River project, indicate a high permeability, suggesting flow rates required to support a lithium plant may be achieved.

The numerous saltwater geysers and springs are within a 15km wide and 16km long geological feature known as the Ten Mile Graben, which is structurally similar to the ‘Roberts Rupture’ at the Paradox project only 50km to the southeast.

These geological features are indicative of extreme fracturing and increased porosity of the host rock units, indicating the potential for artesian flow of brines from depth to surface with no need for pumping.

Positive ESG impact

This creates a unique advantageous situation at the Green River project, which has potential to reduce extraction costs of the lithium-rich brines, as mechanical pumping may not be required – which in turn would deliver a positive ESG impact.

Up until now, Anson’s research into the Green River project has involved combing through numerous historic oil and gas wells drilled through or into the rock units of interest.

This has provided a large database of information which the company hopes to use to reduce costs of exploration and shorten the time frame to complete mineral resource calculations.

Additional test-work from this historic drilling, such as core sampling and flow testing, has also been carried out on some of these wells.

What’s next?

Anson will obtain core from the Utah Core Research Centre (UCRC), Utah Geological Survey and carry out test-work to determine the properties of the units, such as porosity and specific yield which are required for the JORC resource calculation.

Anson expects this to deliver significant cost savings in upgrading the Green River exploration target into a JORC mineral estimate.

So far, the available data indicates that the Green River Project is very similar in all aspects to the Paradox and is suitable for both the extraction of brine and disposal of waste brine back into a desirable formation.

This article was developed in collaboration with Anson Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.