Anson Resources Ltd (ASX:ASN) has confirmed the resource expansion potential of its recently pegged new claims at the western extent of the Paradox Lithium Project in Utah, USA.
The company reveals that the geological units and northwest-trending structures, plus similar high pressures associated with the Paradox Project, have been determined to continue through the recently pegged claims in the western area of the project.
Importantly, the artesian flow of the lithium-rich supersaturated brines has been recorded in the western region of the project area, meaning the brines may flow to the surface under their own pressure, without the need for mechanised pumping.
In combination, these key positive attributes on the western extent of the project mirror those on the eastern side of the project, currently the subject of Anson’s resource expansion drilling.
Anson now plans to kick off the ‘Western Strategy’ of its re-entry drilling program in the near future, and samples will be collected for inclusion in the project’s upcoming resource upgrade.
Unique advantageous situation
Anson has strategically positioned the production pads in optimal locations, where the two major geological structures in the area intersect, which are Roberts Rupture and the Cane Creek Anticline.
Data from historical downhole geophysical logs carried out on the Utah State 16-1 well shows that this area has very high porosity, which along with the high pressures may result in the artesian flow of the extracted brine.
This unique advantageous situation will likely reduce the extraction costs of the lithium-rich brines as fossil fuels will not be needed to power the pumps, providing ESG attributes to the project.
Favourable geological setting
The newly pegged placer claims in the western region of the project have two oil-producing wells, plus a well further to the west where a pressure test in the Mississippian units has been conducted.
This showed that the pressures continued past the Paradox Lithium Project claim boundaries.
The historical logs from the oil well drilling show that the Pennsylvanian and Mississippian geological units continue into these new claims.
A 3D model using all data from the drilling logs clearly shows these lithium-rich brine horizons continue from the project’s brine extraction location to the western side of the newly pegged claims.
It suggests that the clastic zones do not decrease in thickness and the Mississippian units get thicker in the western region of the project.