Galan Lithium Limited (ASX: GLN) has announced a significantly better than expected maiden Mineral Resource estimate for the Hombre Muerto West lithium brine project located in the Catamarca province of Argentina.
Maiden Inferred mineral resource estimate for the Pata Pila and Rana de Sal deposits came in at 1.08Mt of contained lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) @ 946mg/l Li (no cut off) at the HMW project.
This has seen Galan’s total combined mineral resource increase by 158% from 685kt LCE @ 672mg/l Li to 1.77Mt LCE @ 837mg/l Li.
Managing Director Juan Pablo (JP) Vargas de la Vega said the resource estimate significantly exceeds Galan’s expectations of grade, impurities and size.
We are delighted to deliver a JORC reported maiden Resource estimate resulting in an approximate 1.1Mt tonnes of LCE product within the HMW project area,” Mr Vargas de la Vega said.
“This Inferred resource helps to consolidate Galan’s Scoping and Pre-Feasibility Study and has exceeded the Company’s expectations significantly, further validating the high-grade, low impurity nature of the HMW and Candelas projects.
“With the new combined resource of 1.8Mt of LCE and flexibility of two solid projects, our strategy is now stronger to advance towards commercial development and to demonstrate the economic product viability. I look forward to updating investors on the progress of our Scoping and Pre-Feasibility study.”
The mineral resource estimation was undertaken by SRK Consulting (Australasia) and was based upon results from drill holes within the Pata Pila and Rana de Sal tenement holding at Hombre Muerto West for a total of 1,054 metres.
According to SRK, the maiden Hombre Muerto West Mineral Resource represents geologically well- defined zones of high-grade lithium mineralisation. It comprises of significant mineralised hydrogeologic domains. The units within the domains show some variation in thickness along strike and depth.
Mr Vargas de la Vega said further work planned to better define the synergies of the mineral resources from Candelas and HMW will include additional drilling within the HMW and the Candelas North project areas to provide better geological definition and mineralisation potential of the aquifers.
Additionally, complementary works will include the new HMW resource for inclusion in the Scoping and Pre-Feasibility Study which will include base hydrogeological modelling and the investigation of various processing technologies with a focus on traditional evaporation ponds as a precursor to processing.
Galan has recently acquired the option to purchase strategic projects (Del Condor and Pucara de Salar) at HMW from Portofino Resources Inc.