Leaping forward, Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE, OTCQB:LLKKF) has increased the measured and indicated (M&I) resource estimate for its flagship Kachi Project in Argentina to 2.93 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) from 2.19 million.
Continued drilling activities throughout the year have expedited the project's development, defining resources to a depth of 400 metres covering 106 square kilometres.
The inferred resource has also increased to 5.18 million tonnes of LCE defined over 161 square kilometres from 3.1 million tonnes and the resource remains open to a depth of about 600 to 700 metres below ground surface and laterally.
Large resource
“The ongoing hydrogeological characterisation activities started in March of last year have led to a significantly improved understanding of both the spatial and vertical extent of lithium brine but also the permeability of the reservoir materials,” Lake’s director of geology and hydrogeology Michael Gabora said.
“These studies demonstrate that the resource potential within the basin is much larger than the resource defined to date.
“These results will be incorporated into our ongoing definitive feasibility study (DFS) and support our vision for the potential scale of the project moving forward.”
Kachi's location in the western Catamarca province.
More drilling to come
The lithium grade of the measured resource across the salar was 210 mg/L, while the indicated resource to the southeast registered 174 mg/L. The surrounding inferred resource holds a concentration of 200 mg/L.
Two step-out holes drilled near the previously defined northern and southern extents measured lithium grades of 219 mg/L and 283 mg/L, respectively.
With the resource update now out of the way, Lake is testing production wells for pumping and re-injection aquifer testing as part of its DFS.
As well, it is planning upcoming drilling activities targeting additional step-out holes and to define the deeper resource beyond 400 metres below ground surface.