Galan Lithium Limited (ASX: GLN) has announced further outstanding lithium assay results from recent sampling performed at its Pata Pila tenement at the Western Basin of the Hombre Muerto salar in Argentina.
The company reported that 72 hour air lift test sample returned 946 mg/l Li over a >670m interval at Pata Pila. GLN noted that the Mg/Li averages of 1.49 are the lowest levels of impurity to date reported at Hombre Muerto.
Galan said that the Rana de Sal samples have been delivered at the labs and awaiting results.
The company announced that the maiden Resource Estimate for the Western Tenements is expected in Q1 CY2020.
Hombre Muerto
The Hombre Muerto Salar is the premier lithium brine basin in Argentina – high grade, low impurities, (Li: Mg <4) with Livent’s El Fenix operation has been in production for over 20 years.
Hombre Muerto Salar comprises of six project areas totalling ~ 25,000 Ha of landholdings. The main focus of exploration is the Candelas project. Other targets that lie within the Western Basin are Catalina, PataPila, Rana de Sal, Catalina, and Deceo.
The Pata Pila license covers large alluvial fan areas lying adjacent to Livent Corporation’s tenure, covering part of the western margin of the Hombre Muerto salar.
Sampling at Pata Pila
The company had recently completed the sampling at Pata Pila tenement.
GLN said that an airlift test of 72 hours was performed retrieving brine from between the intervals of 40m to 718.5m. It may be noted that this provides an average grade for the drill hole, which is host to three main lithological units (sands, conglomerates, and porous halites) that are the brine bearing aquifers that are estimated to combine to a total of between 350-400m in width.
GLN said that the next phase of test work will be to more accurately determine the flow rates from the aquifers.
Outstanding results
GLN announced that outstanding lithium assay results were reported.
The company said that the 72 hour air lift test sample returned 946 mg/l Li over a >670m interval confirming exceptional grade average for drillhole PP-01-19 at Pata Pila.
Galan said that Mg/Li averages of 1.49 are the lowest levels of impurity to date reported on a drill hole at Hombre Muerto.
Next steps
GLN said that Rana de Sal samples have been delivered to the labs with assay results pending.
The company said that the data from these holes will be used for the maiden resource estimate of the Western Tenements, which is expected during Q1 CY2020
The company announced that SRK is undertaking a maiden resource estimate for the Western Basin project areas.
Management statements
Galan Managing Director, Juan Pablo Vargas de la Vega said: “We are delighted with these results. Galan continues to show that its Hombre Muerto projects have potentially the right recipe for a commercial scale project, as well as being one of the highest-grade lithium brine projects in the world.
Furthermore, we are encouraged by the confirmation of Pata Pila’s high grade and low impurities and the effect on a large section of high-grade brines, which could add significant inventory to the previously reported Candela’s resource of 685kt of LCE.”