Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE | OTC: LLKKF) has reported a significantly larger resource base at its flagship Kachi lithium brine project in Argentina thanks to continued hydrogeological work done on the property since its last resource update in mid-2023.
The new estimate showed that the project’s measured and indicated resources have increased to 7.3Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), representing an increase of approximately 250% over the previous estimate of 2.9Mt measured and indicated LCE.
Including the inferred category, the updated total resource estimate at Kachi now exceeds 10.6Mt of LCE, more than double its inaugural resource of 4.4Mt from November 2018.
The resource is the culmination of an expansive hydrogeological characterization programme over the last year and a half, which has led to significant improvements in its understanding of the Carachi Pampa basin.
“Our improved hydrogeologic understanding of the system will allow us to develop an optimal extraction and recovery strategy to allow for responsible development of clean lithium in the basin while minimizing the consumption of water and related hydrologic impacts,” commented Michael Gabora, director of geology and hydrogeology.
Lake Resources previously stated that future drilling at Kachi would be targeting additional step out holes and exploring the deeper resource beyond 400m, the previous maximum depth drilled at site.
The resource update incorporated the vertically expansive lithium intersects since then, including the exceptional intersections at borehole K24D41, which has grades of 180-348mg/L lithium over 445m, with an average of 267mg/L.
The consistency of the lithium concentration and brine chemistry in the new step out holes demonstrates how well the brine has circulated and mixed within the basin. Additional surface geophysical surveys have been highly complementary to the step-out and deeper drill holes.
This new resource will to be used in the hydrogeologic model for the forthcoming maiden reserve estimate and will be the basis for the Phase 1 definitive feasibility study expected next month.
For further information, please visit: www.nextsourcematerials.com
To read more articles like this, please visit: www.theassay.com
