Galan Lithium Limited (ASX:GLN) ("Galan" or "the Company") is thrilled to provide an update on its flagship Hombre Muerto West (HMW) lithium brine project in Catamarca Province, Argentina. The Company is pleased to report significant advancements in both the HMW Phase 1 and the exploration drilling in the newly consolidated Catalina area.
HMW Phase 1 Highlights:
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Record Lithium Mean Grade: The fourth long-term pumping test (PBRS-03-23) has recorded an outstanding lithium mean grade of 981 mg/L. This is the highest reported grade from a production well in the Hombre Muerto Salar.
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Test Pit Results: A test pit has confirmed that the ground is sound for the construction of ponds for HMW Phase 1.
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Pilot Plant Success: The existing pilot plant continues to deliver lithium chloride samples with a 6% Li concentration, aiding in ongoing off-take negotiations.
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Well Construction: All six initial Phase 1 brine production wells have been successfully constructed.
Exploration Drilling in Newly Consolidated Catalina Area:
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Fractured Domain Continuity: The first drilling confirms the continuity of the highly fractured domain at 300 meters deep, remaining open at depth.
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Airlift Test: A 72-hour airlift test ran at an impressive 6 L/s, confirming enormous permeability potential. Previous tests had recorded averages of only 1-3 L/s.
Other Updates:
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Strategic Discussions: Third-party off-take and other strategic discussions are ongoing.
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Phase 2 DFS: The completion of the Phase 2 Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) is still on track for September 2023.
Galan’s Managing Director, Juan Pablo (JP) Vargas de la Vega, commented: “On the HMW Phase 1 construction front everything is moving along nicely with the main earthmoving contractor mobilising to site a week or so ago. Sound and solid test pit ground material results have given us great confidence in the ponds construction.
We are also delighted to report that all wells required to support the HMW Phase 1 production have now been constructed and with 4 long-term pumping tests now complete, we have confirmed the impressive HMW grades and flow rates that are consistently being achieved.
HMW’s newly consolidated Catalina area has provided very encouraging exploration results as we look forward to drilling more holes, along with geophysics, to be included in a future resource update. HMW keeps on growing and giving great results.
Congratulations to the Galan site team for this significant milestone which further de-risks the project. Our path to production is now tangible and real. We remain motivated become a new lithium miner and to start cashflow in H1 2025.”
About us:
Galan Lithium Limited (ASX:GLN) is an ASX-listed lithium exploration and development business. Galan’s flagship assets comprise two world-class lithium brine projects, HMW and Candelas, located on the Hombre Muerto salar in Argentina, within South America’s ‘lithium triangle’. Hombre Muerto is proven to host lithium brine deposition of the highest grade and lowest impurity levels within Argentina. It is home to the established El Fenix lithium operation (Livent Corporation) and the Sal de Vida (Allkem) and Sal de Oro (POSCO) lithium projects. Galan is also exploring at Greenbushes South in Western Australia, approximately 3km south of the Tier 1 Greenbushes Lithium Mine.
Contact details:
Jane Morgan