ACME Lithium Inc reported that it has successfully completed Hole DH-1 at the Clayton Valley lithium brine project to a total depth of 1,400 feet (427 meters) below ground surface.
The Carson City, Nevada-based mineral exploration company said prospective basin sediments have been encountered and delineated as highly probable for aquifer units based on permeability features, lithology, and color. The core is consistent with the known basin stratigraphy.
Most notably, multiple permeability features consisting of coarse sands and gravels, and sand and gravel with weak clay matrix were encountered from approximately 479 feet to 1,400 feet.
READ: ACME Lithium kicks off drilling at Clayton Valley Nevada lithium brine project
From the logged core, these permeability features increased in frequency and in depth below the silt and clay dominated stratigraphy higher in the hole above 479 feet. A second ash layer or lacustrine tuff was encountered from 1,180 to 1,250 feet which also exhibits characteristics of a potential lithium bearing aquifer deeper in the depositional sequence in Clayton Valley, said the company.
Cemented surface casing was set to a depth of 200 feet and perforated three-inch PVC casing was installed from 200 feet. The perforations allow formation fluids to flow through the casing. Downhole logs and geophysical surveys were completed for hole deviation, natural gamma, fluid conductivity and temperature.
The company said natural gamma, fluid conductivity, and temperature logs all indicate possible brine inflow zones starting around 850 feet with electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids increasing with depth to 1,400 feet.
Fluids in the wellbore will be developed out of the hole via airlift to remove potential drilling contaminants. After completing well development activities, individual passive composite zone samples will be collected using HydraSleeve and Snap Sampler technology. Sample zones will target stratigraphic features expected to contain brine, said the firm. These samples will be sent to an independent lab and analyzed for lithium, boron, and other minerals typical of lithium enriched brine systems.
It is expected that the fluids in the casing will stratify by density, so the resulting data will indicate if potentially economic lithium brines are present. If so, the geologic and geophysical data will help identify specific horizons to be tested in a Phase 1B drill program which will include a separate, larger diameter well for completion of brine aquifer permeability testing and sampling.
According to the company, Phase 1B is expected to be executed during the third and fourth quarter of 2022.
ACME's Clayton Valley Nevada lithium brine project is contiguous to the northwest of Albermarle's Silverpeak lithium deposit which has been in production since 1966.
Harris Drilling Exploration and Associates Inc has been contracted by ACME's operator, GeoXplor Corp, to provide drilling services.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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