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Lithium Energy poised to pull the trigger on Solaroz exploration
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Lithium Energy is drawing closer to starting exploration at its flagship Solaroz project in Argentina with the arrival of key geophysical testing equipment.
The equipment, which is currently being configured and tested for deployment, will assist in validating the current exploration target of between 1.5 to 8.7 million tonnes of contained lithium carbonate equivalent and to optimise the location of drill holes that will underpin the next phase of exploration.
Lithium Energy (ASX:LEL) says the equipment will be mobilised to field upon receipt of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval, which is entering the final stages of evaluation.
This geophysical equipment will be used to define the basin basement morphology and thickness of the hydrogeological units that have the potential to contain brines of economic interest.
Lithium brines are generally considered to have some of the lowest costs for the production of lithium carbonate.
Geological modelling has indicated that a lithium-brine hosting deep sand unit could be present beneath surficial material at depths from 200-400m over about 78sqkm of the company’s tenements.
Its exploration target is based on the interpretation that the alluvial deposits were deposited relatively recently and lie directly above the productive deep sand unit of the lithium rich aquifer from which Orocobre (ASX:ORE) is extracting its brine.
Lithium brine neighbours
The company has good reason to be keen on starting exploration at Solaroz.
Its project is surrounded by tenements held by Orocobre and Lithium America within the ‘lithium triangle’ situated in the north-west of Argentina.
Adding interest, it is similar in size to the resource of 6.4Mt of contained LCE at Orocobre’s neighbouring Salar de Olaroz.
This article was developed in collaboration with Lithium Energy, 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.
