Australian junior Lake Resources, developer of the Kachi lithium project in Catamarca, reported that drilling completed in its operation continues to intercept lithium-rich brine in sand units, favorable for extraction over thick intervals in the southern portion of the central resource area.
By Panorama Minero
In the most recent work, the focus was on drillhole K25D44, which was not completed in time to be incorporated into the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for phase 1 of the project, released last December. However, the results from the drillhole confirm the presence of high-grade lithium brine south of the central resource area and at a depth of over 600 meters, expanding the estimated potential in the Study. "The results further support the positive hydrogeological modeling results that were the basis for the Project's Mineral Reserve and the recently submitted DFS," they noted in a recent statement.
Highlights of the Feasibility Study:
-The total resource at Kachi is estimated at 10.6 Mt of LCE
-The mine's lifespan is estimated at 25 years, supported by an initial Mineral Reserve report
-Phase 1 development of the project aims for a production of 25,000 tonnes per year (tpa) over the mine's lifespan
-The 25,000 tpa operation recovers only a small fraction of the Measured and Indicated Resource, allowing Lake to study further expansions
-A DLE (Direct Lithium Extraction) technology process will be used, designed to mitigate the impact on the local community with minimal disruption to land, the water table, and water usage
-The Project aims for the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate (>99.5% purity) on-site without the need for further refinement or processing
"Kachi aims to obtain the first lithium production in 2027 with a ramp-up culminating by the end of 2028, which is forecasted to coincide with the start of a prolonged period of structural deficit for battery-grade lithium chemicals," the company said while affirming: "Drilling results demonstrate the continuity of higher-grade lithium brines, south of the Phase One DFS extraction wellfield design and along a northwest-southeast trending fault. The relatively high lithium grades and favorable geological materials beyond the planned DFS wellfield highlight continued favorable results for establishing higher-capacity wells."
"The most recent drilling interception further demonstrates the vertical continuity of lithium-bearing brine to over 600 meters in clean, fine, and medium sands conducive to highly productive extraction wells," concluded Michael Gabora, Director of Geology and Hydrogeology at Lake Resources. "With an average of 257 mg/L across the production zones, drillhole K25D44 continues the trend of intercepting significantly higher lithium grades than the 205 mg/L design basis of the DFS presented."
Catamarca: Lake Resources will have its first lithium production in 2027
