Altamin (ASX:AZI) has applied to increase the EL application area by over 500% at its Lazio Geothermal Lithium Project to cover a significant portion of the remaining geothermal reservoir, defined by deep drilling in the 1970s.
The project area, comprising the Campagnano and Galeria Els, is near Cesano some 50km north of Rome in an area well known for its geothermal energy, with permits adjacent to the Italian assets of Vulcan Energy (ASX:VUL).
The company has received a detailed study from expert independent Italian geothermal consultants STEAM, which provides a geological model for the entire prospective district. The study reports a positive reservoir assessment (non-JORC compliant) of potential energy and lithium content contained within the boundaries of the existing Campagnano and Galeria ELs.
Altamin reports the new permit application areas are known as Melazza, Sabazia, Sacrofano, and Cassia. All new applications have received positive environmental decrees (first stage of EL grant process) and are now being reviewed by the regional government of Lazio (final stage of EL granting).
STEAM’s assessment utilises a data package based on the extensive investigation of the geothermal reservoir undertaken by ENEL (Italy’s national utility for distributing electricity and gas) in the 1970s and 80s.
The historical data sources include the results of ground geophysics, drilling logs, brine analyses and data from a geothermal pilot plant commissioned to extract brines, generate geothermal power, and re-inject spent brines.
The STEAM report authors include geoscientists who worked on ENEL’s initial project and have firsthand knowledge of the geological data and the technical aspects of the historical work.
Altamin says geological model prepared by STEAM is developed from the historical geophysical and borehole data which indicates the presence of a deep (1,500m to 2,000m below surface) and continuous reservoir of geothermal fluids under the entire area of Altamin’s ELs.
The company adds that the brines from the boreholes were sampled multiple times by ENEL between the 1970s and 80s. The brine analyses compiled in STEAM’s report show significant levels of lithium in multiple holes sampled.
Using this information Altamin applied for new EL areas designed to maximise coverage of the deep reservoir and to encompass many of the historical boreholes, including the production well C1 which had lithium values recorded up to 250mg/l, and the injection well C5.
If granted, this EL package will give Altamin the majority land position in the Cesano geothermal field.
As a result of STEAM’s positive assessment and the positive environmental approvals for the EL applications, Altamin has now commissioned STEAM to update the reservoir assessment of the contained energy and minerals to include all of the areas granted or under application.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Altamin
