Patagonia Lithium (ASX:PL3) has completed a 72-hour pump test at well eight on its Cilon concession, achieving a flow rate of 2,043 litres per hour and extracting 146,800 litres total.
The company reports the test achieved consistent results with other proximate wells, with lithium concentrations reaching 232 parts per million at 250m depth. During the test period, approximately 34 kilograms of lithium was pumped, equivalent to 180 kilograms of lithium carbonate equivalent.
Executive Chairman Phillip Thomas says the well recovered ‘exceptionally fast’ after pumping finished.
“We achieved strong pumping results from well eight on the Cilon concession. The water level measured at start was 3.64m and after the pump was shut down was 52.7m depth showing the aquifer performs very well near the surface not at 300 or 400m depth,” Thomas adds.
The constant-rate pumping test ran continuously for 72 hours using a three-inch submersible pump installed at 80m depth. Precision instruments monitored the dynamic water level through Level Logger and Baro Logger sensors.
Following the 72-hour pumping phase, the company conducted a 24-hour recovery test. The well recovered from 52.4m to its static water level of 3.64m within 24 hours.
The company identified a well-sorted sandy horizon with thin volcaniclastic levels between 226m and 324m depth, which stands out as an aquifer zone of interest due to favourable porosity and permeability properties.
Laboratory analyses confirm ‘lithium-rich’ brines in the main aquifer interval.
Patagonia completed 10 positive packer tests at different depths and recovered 20 core samples for porosity determination. The company is processing four additional cores to correlate with BMR porosity results.
Well nine has completed a successful packer test at 150m depth. The company reports further processing of BMR spectral gamma geophysics increased specific yield porosity by 2% across all six zones.
The company is computing an updated mineral resource estimate, with a scoping report to follow.
Patagonia Lithium is an Australian explorer advancing lithium brine, rare earth, and niobium projects across Argentina’s Lithium Triangle and Brazil.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Patagonia Lithium
