ION Energy Limited says it will commence a maiden exploration program at its 100%-owned Urgakh Naran lithium salar project in Dorngovi Province, Mongolia.
In addition, the company said it is launching the exploration program as it celebrates the one-year anniversary of its trading start on the TSX Venture Exchange.
“Our team has accomplished so much in the past year: from a new licence acquisition to the closing of a significant public offering,” CEO Ali Haji in a statement. “We are now very pleased to be commencing the maiden exploration program at our Urgakh Naran lithium salar project. This is an exciting milestone for the company, and another step in ION Energy’s aggressive growth strategy.”
READ: ION Energy completes exploration program at its Baavhai Uul lithium salar project in Mongolia
Highlights exploration program include:
- Extensive and systematic near-surface testing of the UN salar
- An initial 73 shallow holes planned with drilling commencing in the coming weeks
- Hydrogeological sampling of brines intersected
- Geochemical sampling of salar clays and evaporites
ION Energy said drilling will consist of 73 shallow auger drilling holes at a wide spacing of one kilometre (km) by one-km. Drill holes will be completed to a depth of approximately six metres (m). Potential lithium-bearing clays and evaporites will be sampled in each hole as will any lithium brines intersected by this shallow drilling.
The company said the main body of the UN salar is approximately 10-km by three-km in size and is highly prospective for lithium, and this will be the first systematic testing of the surficial layers and brines associated with the UN salar.
ION Energy said it “remains highly encouraged,” having encountered lithium brines in its initial drilling program at the Baavhai Uul lithium salar project.
Stratigraphic lithologies and brines intersected in the maiden drilling program will now need to be systematically tested for lithium. A program of hydrological drilling and brine sampling in addition to a program of surface testing of the Baavhai Uul salars is currently being planned for commencement after the completion of drill testing of the UN salar.
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