Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE, OTCQB:LLKKF) has significantly upgraded the resource estimate for Kachi Lithium Brine Project in Argentina, doubling the measured and indicated categories to 2.2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent and increasing the inferred portion of the resource to 3.1 million tonnes.
The upgrade was achieved through infill drilling programs conducted over the previous year with LKE having engaged multiple drill rigs to expedite the work.
Overall, Kachi’s measured and indicated resource in the central area of the salar has now been defined over 81 square kilometres to a depth of 400 metres, while the surrounding inferred resource stretches over 117 square kilometres down to 700 metres, still open at depth and laterally.
More assays are expected to increase the area of high confidence (measured and indicated) resources, expanding the boundaries of those categories.
Installation of production wells
Now that Lake has released an upgraded resource estimate, the company will focus on installing test production wells for pumping and reinjection aquifer testing as part of the project’s definitive feasibility studies (DFS).
The lithium grade of the measured resource across the salar was measured at 212 milligrams per litre (mg/L) lithium, the indicated resource at 178 mg/L and the surrounding inferred resource measured 198mg/L lithium.
The project within South America's Lithium Triangle is 100% owned by subsidiary Kachi Lithium Pty Ltd, in which Lake holds a 90% interest alongside technology partner Lilac Solutions, which owns the remaining 10%.