Galan Lithium’s Hombre Muerto West project demonstrates high production capacity

High production capacity has been confirmed at Galan Lithium’s (ASX: GLN) Hombre Muerto West (HMW) brine project in Argentina.

The company has successfully completed the 2022 brine pumping test campaign at the Pata Pila and Rana del Sal concessions within HMW, which returned “strong extraction and production well chemistry results” from three long-term tests.

Two production pumping wells were completed at Pata Pila, with one undertaken at Rana de Sal.

Each well comprised an initial step evaluation, a 72-hour constant rate and recovery test, followed by a long-term (30-plus day) pumping and recovery period.

At the first Pata Pila well, the average flow rate was 19 litres per second, with a mean grade of 876 milligrams per litre of lithium.

The second Pata Pila well demonstrate a 21L/s flow rate and grade of 838mg/L. Over at Rana de Sal, the test well averaged 25L/s and 967mg/L lithium.

“The positive long-term pumping brine test results are extremely significant by providing certainty of brine flow extraction, lithium grade, and cementing the HMW reserve model,” Galan exploration manager Álvaro Henríquez said.

Results from the testing program confirm capacity for Galan’s planned 4,000 tonnes per annum lithium carbonate equivalent pilot plant, which is on-track to begin continuous production in the first half of this year.

Test work also supports the definitive feasibility study for HMW, which is due for delivery in the current quarter.

Building potential

To build on HMW’s resource and reserve potential, Galan undertook a new geophysical survey across the tenements.

The survey provides better geometric resolution and “further confidence” in exploration for future resource expansion, including over the Santa Barbara tenements where drilling is in progress.

Drilling at the Pucara del Salar has also yielded positive results generating lithium concentrations up to 988mg/L and averaging 974mg/L.

“All of the above factors, keep adding empirical support for the world-class nature of the HMW project and its continued rapid advancement and development to production,” Mr Henríquez said.