Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp (TSX-V:LIT, OTCQX:LILIF) has announced encouraging lithium brine results from its 14th exploration well at the Rincon West project in Salta Province, Argentina.
The latest drill hole, RW-DDH-14, returned lithium concentrations ranging from 277 to 379 mg/l over a 225-metre interval.
RW-DDH-14 marks the fifth well in a six-hole campaign at the Rinconcita II property.
It was drilled using HQ-diameter diamond drilling, allowing core and brine sample collection. A total of 17 brine samples were collected from depths between 24.5 and 249.5 metres, with 16 representative samples covering a 225-metre interval.
Sandy sediments, breccias, and ignimbritic breccias were logged throughout the borehole, with the company expecting that the sandy units will be the most favorable for lithium extraction.
The program was executed by AGV Falcon Drilling SRL under the supervision of Argentina Lithium’s geologists.
Miles Rideout, Argentina Lithium’s VP of exploration, said the 14 exploration holes drilled at Rincon West validated the property’s competitive grade potential.
“All drill holes have demonstrated mid-grade brines, validating our interpretation of the conductive formations identified during geophysical targeting,” he said.
Rideout added that the company is currently working on the resource model for the initial exploration, to the west side of the Rincon salt flat and next to Rio Tinto’s Rincon project.
Further, Argentina Lithium is currently conducting a long-duration pump test on the sixth well (RW-RT-01), a deep rotary hole drilled beside RW-DDH-11.
“This resource work incorporates results from pump tests currently being completed on the project's initial rotary well. Additional rotary wells are planned for the project, subject to permit approval," Rideout said.
“The provincial ministry is currently reviewing the drill permit application for the eastern Don Fermin block, which has had no previous drilling but has extensive geophysical responses suggesting subsurface conductive targets are present."