Diversified minerals company Power Minerals Limited (ASX: PNN) is preparing to kick off its resource definition drilling campaign at the Salta Lithium-Brine Project, in the Salta province in the lithium triangle of north-west Argentina.
The drilling campaign will begin at the Incahuasi salar (salt lake), located immediately adjacent to Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd’s project in the region, and then progress to the Pocitos and Rincon salares within the Salta Project.
The campaign is designed to deliver maiden resources at Incahuasi and Pocitos, and expand the existing resource at Rincon, with the aim of upgrading the Salta Project’s existing JORC Mineral Resource to support future development plans at the Project.
“Drilling at Incahuasi is planned to consist of two diamond drill holes for a total of 1,000m, and is designed to deliver a maiden JORC Mineral Resource at this priority target. This program represents a key next step in Power’s systematic development of the Project.” Power Minerals Executive Director, Mena Habib, said.
All requisite permits for drilling have been granted, and site preparations are nearing completion. Experienced local Argentinian drilling contractor Hidrotec SRL has been engaged to undertake the Incahuasi drilling, which is due to commence within the next two weeks.
Next Steps
Once drilling has been completed at Incahuasi, the campaign is planned to progress to the Pocitos and Rincon salares. Power will use the results of its Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) geophysical survey along with the company’s previous geophysics surveys and lithium exploration database to refine its drill targeting and planning at the three salares.
The results of the VES survey will be used to assess potential lithium brine under alluvial fans adjacent to the salares, and also to assess potential for near-surface fresh water aquifers in the alluvial fans.
Fresh water is a highly valuable resource in the arid Puna region of Argentina and is a critical input to possible future Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) processing operations at the Salta Project.
For further information please visit: https://www.powerminerals.com.au