Galan Lithium’s maiden indicated Candelas lithium brine resource ‘exceeds’ expectations
Galan Lithium’s maiden resources for the North Zone at Candelas comprises 684,850t of contained lithium carbonate equivalent.
Galan Lithium (ASX: GLN) has unveiled a maiden resource for the North Zone of its Candelas lithium brine project in Argentina, with managing director Juan Pablo Vargas de la Vega claiming the resource had “exceeded” expectations and validated the asset’s high-grade nature.
The indicated maiden resource was calculated on the project’s North Zone and totals 684,850 tonnes of contained lithium carbonate equivalent with an average grade of 672 milligrams per litre at a 500mg/l cut off.
Mr Vargas de la Vega said the company was delighted to deliver the high-grade resource within Candelas.
“This indicated resource forms a solid basis for the upcoming pre-feasibility study and has exceeded the company’s expectations, further validating the high-grade, low impurity nature of the Candelas project and our strategy to fast-track Candelas towards commercial development,” Mr Vargas de la Vega explained.
He added he was confident further drilling at the project would deliver further resource upgrades.
Upcoming drilling will target the Central Zone to give Candelas a better understanding of the geology and potential of the aquifers in that area.
Initial pre-feasibility work will also begin including hydrogeological modelling and investigating various processing techniques with a focus on using traditional evaporation ponds prior to processing.
Candelas lithium brine project
Galan is exploring for lithium brine across Argentina’s Hombre Muerto salar which is within South America’s prolific Lithium Triangle.
Previous drill results underpinning today’s maiden resource were 137m at 680mg/l of lithium, 70.4m at 744mg/l lithium, and 54m at 510mg/l lithium.
To enhance the company’s potential and de-risk the project, Galan appointed former Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile’s (SQM) vice president of sales Daniel Jiménez Schuster to its board early last month.
Mr Jiménez Schuster joined SQM in 1991 and has worked in a variety of senior roles for the company over the years.
According to Mr Vargas de la Vega, Mr Jiménez Schuster had reviewed Candelas prior to joining the company and had seen the asset’s potential.
Galan has also gained another experienced lithium brine veteran Boris Caro to oversee the pre-feasibility study.