Galan Lithium intersects multiple brine horizons at Western Basin landholding in Lithium Triangle
Galan Lithium intersected three brine horizons close to Livent Corporation’s Fenix operation.
Less than a month after kicking-off a maiden drilling program at its Western Basin assets, Galan Lithium (ASX: GLN) revealed it has intercepted multiple brine horizons within the Pata Pila licence, which is adjacent to Livent Corporation’s tenure in Argentina.
Pata Pila is part of Galan’s Western Basin projects on Argentina’s Hombre Muerto salar, with drilling intersecting several “heavy brine bearing aquifers”.
Drilling was targeting a highly conducted anomaly that was identified from surveys completed last year.
According to Galan, the anomaly is an extension of a brine producing aquifer in Livent’s Fenix operation.
The drill hole has reached a 647m depth and intercepted three major brine horizons with specific gravity readings above >1.20 and conductivities of >200 millisiemens per centimetre.
The first zone extends from 90m to 252m, with the second aquifer identified between 253-275m, and the third extending from 397m to 647m.
“The discovery of heavy brines not only in the Livent production aquifer, but also from two previously unknown aquifers at Pata Pila is beyond our expectations,” Galan managing director Juan Pablo Vargas de la Vega said.
He added he was “excited” by Pata Pila’s potential to host a significant lithium brine resource, which would add to the maiden Candelas resource due this month.
Galan has received permits to drill 14 holes across the Western Basin tenements over the next 18 months in addition to five water bores.
Candelas lithium brine project
Galan expects exploration across the Western Basin will build on its success at the Candelas project in Argentina’s Catamarca province.
A maiden resource for Candelas is imminent with recent drilling confirming high-grade, low impurity brines across 3.5km of strike within the project’s northern section.
Recent notable drill results have included 137m at 680 milligrams per litre of lithium, 70.4m at 744mg/l lithium, and 54m at 510mg/l lithium.
Mr Vargas de la Vega told Small Caps the project has “good fundamentals” and these will be explored in the upcoming pre-feasibility study which will begin in the December quarter.
To de-risk the project further, Galan appointed the highly experienced Daniel Jiménez Schuster to its board this week.
Mr Jiménez Schuster spent 28 years with the world’s second largest lithium producer SQM in a variety of senior roles.
Galan also secured the services of Boris Caro to oversee the upcoming study.