Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp (TSX-V:LIT, OTCQX:LILIF) recently released promising drill results from its Rincon West project.
The company has completed its 14th exploration well on the western block and has observed consistent lithium concentrations ranging from 277 to 379 mg/L.
Miles Rideout, VP of exploration, joined Proactive to discuss the results.
Proactive: Welcome back inside our Proactive newsroom. Joining me now is Miles Rideout, Vice President of Exploration for Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. Miles, good to have you back. How are you?
Miles Rideout: I'm very well. Thanks for the invitation.
Great to have you. The company just released news about the 14th exploration well at the Rincon West project. It looks like you're seeing some promising results. Exciting times?
Absolutely. This marks the completion of the exploration stage on the western block. To recap for your viewers, the project consists of three blocks: the western block, where we started work, the northern block called Paso de Sico, and the eastern block, Don Fermin. This is our 14th diamond drill hole on the western block, and we also have one completed rotary well there.
We are currently conducting a long-duration pump test—about 30 days—to understand how the brine aquifer responds over time and whether lithium grades change during extended pumping.
The lithium concentrations range from 277 to 379 mg/L, which seems consistent with previous results. Is that correct?
Yes, that's right. We've noticed that as we move east across the property, the high-grade lithium intervals become thicker, more porous, and more permeable. This suggests that our best production wells might be in the eastern part of the property.
Interestingly, our highest lithium values were actually found in the middle of the property, in the sandy area where we started drilling a few years ago. The entire property remains highly prospective, as indicated by our geophysical data.
You're currently working on a resource model for the western portion of Rincon West. Can you share any updates?
Yes, we are actively working on it with hydrological consultants. They specifically requested the pump test data we’re collecting now. While I don’t have an exact date for completion, we expect to have results by mid-year, possibly around June.
Let’s talk about the eastern Don Fermin block. You’re working on securing drill permits there. What’s the status?
Don Fermin is very interesting to us. In August last year, we released a press update with maps showing the aquifer structure. The aquifer is extensive—around 600 hectares—and is located right next to Argosy Minerals’ lithium resource.
Argosy has developed a substantial resource over the past five years, and our Don Fermin block is directly east and north of their property. We believe there is strong potential there.
We submitted our drilling permit applications around September or October of last year. These permits typically take about 12 months to be approved, so we are hoping to receive approval by this coming September.
Before we wrap up, you’ve also been advancing work on your other properties. Can you share an update?
Yes, we used part of the funding received from Stellantis to conduct geophysical surveys across three of our four property areas. These surveys are the same type of geophysics we used at Rincon, and they are helping us assess the brine aquifer potential in our other projects—Pocitos and Antofalla North.
Altogether, we’ve surveyed about 250 line kilometers. The goal is to define targets and development models so that when lithium prices rebound, we are well-positioned to attract potential investors or partnerships.
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and style