Lithium Energy Uncovers Lithium Brines at White Plains: What’s Next?
Lithium Energy Limited has confirmed lithium brine mineralisation in shallow aquifers at its White Plains Project in Utah, with assays up to 100 mg/L. The discovery supports plans for drilling deeper aquifers that may host higher-grade lithium.
- Lithium detected in all 22 near-surface auger samples
- Two aquifers identified – shallow Upper Aquifer and deeper Deep Aquifer
- Deep Aquifer expected to have higher lithium grades based on geological models
- Plans underway for 2D/3D basin modelling and drilling programs
- Project located near key infrastructure in Utah, USA
Exploration Breakthrough at White Plains
Lithium Energy Limited (ASX – LEL) has announced a significant milestone at its White Plains Lithium Brine Project in Utah, confirming the presence of lithium mineralisation in near-surface brines. The company’s recent Magnetotelluric (MT) geophysical survey and shallow auger sampling program have identified two aquifers prospective for lithium – a shallow Upper Aquifer and a deeper aquifer starting around 200 metres below surface.
All 22 auger samples collected from depths up to 2 metres contained lithium, with assay results reaching as high as 100 mg/L. This consistent presence of lithium in the upper aquifer validates Lithium Energy’s geological model and provides a strong foundation for further exploration.
Deeper Aquifer Holds Promise
While the shallow aquifer results are encouraging, the company believes the deeper aquifer could be even more significant. Drawing on experience from its Solaroz Lithium Brine Project in Argentina, Lithium Energy expects lithium concentrations to increase with depth due to the accumulation of dissolved solids. The MT survey supports this hypothesis, showing lower resistivity in the deeper aquifer indicative of lithium-rich brines.
These findings have prompted plans for a comprehensive drilling program aimed at quantifying lithium mineralisation in both aquifers. The drilling will help delineate exploration targets and potentially define a maiden JORC Mineral Resource, a critical step towards project development.
Strategic Location and Next Steps
The White Plains Project covers approximately 6,870 hectares in a land-locked hypersaline salt pan near Wendover, Utah, about 200 kilometres west of Salt Lake City. The site benefits from proximity to major highways and existing lithium and potash operations in the region, enhancing its logistical appeal.
Lithium Energy plans to integrate historic exploration data with new geophysical and sampling results to develop detailed 2D and 3D geological models of the basin. These models will guide further surface sampling and drilling campaigns, aiming to better understand the hydrogeology and geochemistry of the brine aquifers.
Ultimately, the company intends to advance the project towards feasibility studies, assessing economic viability and preparing for potential production. The confirmation of lithium brines at White Plains marks a pivotal step in this journey.
Bottom Line?
With lithium confirmed near surface and promising deeper targets identified, Lithium Energy’s next drilling campaign will be closely watched for resource-defining results.
Questions in the middle?
- What lithium grades and volumes will drilling reveal in the deeper aquifer?
- How will the magnesium-to-lithium ratio impact extraction economics?
- What timeline does Lithium Energy envision for advancing to a JORC Mineral Resource?
