Xantippe Resources Limited (ASX: XTC) has uncovered a large potential lithium-bearing brine zone at the Carachi Lithium Project in Catamarca, Argentina.
The Company recently completed a Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) geophysical survey that has identified a highly conductive horizon that is interpreted to represent a brine target with potential to host a large lithium deposit.
The project area shares geologic features in common with other lithium-rich salars in the region. This brine aquifer has been reported as having elevated concentrations of lithium at Lake Resources’ Kachi lithium project located adjacent to the Project. The geophysical survey covered an area of approximately 300 square kilometres. The conductive horizon was detected clearly in the majority of the VES stations, which cover an area of approximately 130 square kilometres.
The zone is characterised by very low resistivity values interpreted to represent a buried salar deposit of a highly conductive saline brine zone (<2 ohm/m). The zone occurs at depths of 34 to 220 metres below surface. It is interpreted to be at least 150 metres thick, and is open at depth and in all directions laterally.
VES geophysical surveys are being used frequently in Argentina to successfully delineate potential brine zones below surface. Based on the VES resistivity data, Conhidro interprets there to be five zones, which range from unsaturated material (highly resistive) in the surface, to highly conductive brine at depth.
Three of these zones have been interpreted as follows:
* Unit 1: A near surface horizon with resistivity values ranging between 30 to 2,324 ohm/m. Conhidro interpreted this zone as a horizon of unsaturated Quaternary sediments probably consisting of gravel and minor silts/clays.
* Unit 2: A semi-resistive layer with moderate resistivity values between 83 to 123 ohm/m, which Conhidro interpreted to be a gravel and sand horizon containing fresh to brackish water. The thickness of this zone ranges from nine to 178 metres.
* Unit 3: This layer is a highly conductive zone with resistivity values that range from 0.2 to 1.0 ohm/m interpreted by Conhidro to represent a zone of saturated brines. The zone begins at a depth of 34 metres in the southwest portion of the claim group and it dips to a depth of 200 metres to the central part of the claim group increasing depth to the north. Maximum thickness of the unit is unknown.
“The company is very pleased with these positive results and moves forward with great confidence to the next phase of exploration, our first drilling programme,” Executive Chairman, John Featherby, said.
“The aim is to use this drilling programme to provide an initial JORC compliant Mineral Resource Estimate.”
The next phase of exploration at Carachi will involve exploration drilling. The company has submitted the environmental impact assessment (EIA) necessary to obtain the permits.
The mining authority is in the process of evaluating the EIA for a programme consisting of 3,550 metres of exploration core holes to sample and characterise the target aquifer (four holes of 400 metres in south part, one of 500 metres in central portion of the Project and one of up to 950 metres in the north) and one 500-metre pumpable well in the southwest portion of the claim area. The drilling programme will commence as soon as the permits are granted.
For further information please visit: https://xantippe.com.au/
