A drilling rig has now mobilised to site and is preparing to commence drilling borehole OZDH001. Pic via Getty Images
Lithium Energy to drill potential monster lithium brine deposit next door to Allkem’s Olaraz
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A 10-hole, 5,000m drilling program is about to kick off at the Solaroz Project in the heart of South America’s world-renowned Lithium Triangle.
The first target is borehole OZDH001 within the Mario Angel concession, adjacent to Allkem’s (ASX:AKE) existing production assets and less than 3km from the Maria Victoria concession – recently acquired by Allkem as a strategic tenement. Lithium Energy (ASX:LEL) believes the location of OZDH001 is highly prospective for lithium bearing brines.
Lithium Energy has recently been undertaking a series of geophysical surveys over the extensive Solaroz 12,000 hectare concession area, as part of an extensive exploration programme towards defining a maiden JORC Mineral Resource of lithium at Solaroz.
The Company has already reported that interpretation of the results of these geophysical surveys indicate the presence of significant quantities of conductive brines in the Solaroz concession area, with indicated brine thicknesses up to 300 metres and to depths up to 500 metres below surface in sections.
Conductive brines such as those currently being mined by Allkem in adjoining concessions are a key pathfinder for the occurrence of lithium in the Olaroz Salar.
Drilling to assist with JORC resource development
LEL says the program comprises a combination of 10 diamond and rotary holes, undertaken by a drilling contractor with extensive experience in the Olaroz Salar.
This drilling will test several different things – the extent and grades of lithium mineralisation, porosity, and flow rates across the layers of conductive brines, which have been previously identified through a geophysics program.
Once the program gets underway on hole OZDH001, LEL will continue interpreting the recent geophysics results to determine the optimal location for subsequent drill holes.
The information will then be used to develop a potential maiden JORC mineral resource for Solaroz from its substantial 12,000-hectare concession area on the Salar de Olaroz basin.
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.
