Sep 2 2016
Advantage Lithium Corp. and its partner, Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp., are pleased to announce an exploration program update for its Clayton NE project in Clayton Valley, Nevada, which borders Albemarle's Silver Peak mine - North America's only brine hosted lithium producer. The program will be comprised of both ground geophysics and Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes. Three holes (approximately 1,500m total) will focus on high-priority lithium brine aquifer targets close to the Silver Peak border.
Drilling Highlights
- 3 drill targets within close proximity to Albemarle's Silver Peak mine, where brine production wells are situated within approximately 100m of the Clayton NE property boundary. The drill program is expected to commence during late September.
- Historical drilling within the project area by the United States Geological Survey ("USGS") was reported to encounter elevated lithium values in ground water.
- Advantage Lithium is the only lithium explorer in the Clayton Valley, other than Albemarle, with access to certified water rights.
David Sidoo, President and Director, of Advantage Lithium, commented: "Within just weeks of closing our acquisition, we are preparing to drill at Clayton NE, where proximity to Albemarle's lithium production wells and favourable geology, give Clayton NE excellent potential as a lithium brine project. In addition to advancing our Clayton Valley projects, Advantage Lithium is continuing to identify and assess additional projects in North and South America with a view to potential acquisition."
In addition to the drilling, an 11 line-km Volterra 3D Resitivity ground geophysics survey program will be conducted over the entire project area. The survey will have the potential to identify and image conductive horizons to approximately 600m depth as well as identify subsurface faults. Brine formations, such as those that Albemarle produce lithium from on its neighboring Silver Peak property, should appear as conductive horizons. The location, thickness and potential concentrations of lithium in brines are often influenced and controlled by geological structural features. The 3D Resistivity survey also has the potential to discern and image subsurface structural features such as the Angel Island fault, which is projected to run parallel to and proximal to the eastern claim boundary. The Angel Island fault is interpreted to be an important feature associated with Silver Peak's economic brine formations. The program is budgeted at CDN $642,000.
Clayton Valley Project Overview
- The approximately 1,000 acres (405 hectares) project is located in the Clayton Valley sedimentary salar and is contiguous to the eastern boundary of the Silver Peak property.
- Several lithium brine production wells are situated within approximately 100 metres west of the Clayton NE claim boundary.
- It is reported in the United States Geological Survey ("USGS") Open-File Report 82-415 (1982) that a historical drill-hole (CV-5) is located on the property. CV-5 was drilled to a depth of 479 feet and encountered lithium values in ground water ranging from 24 parts per million ("ppm") to 110 ppm, averaging 69.3 ppm for a group of 11 samples, and averaging 65.75 ppm for another group of 12 samples, analyzed both in the laboratory and in the field. The hole was part of a 1977 regional drilling program carried out by the USGS. Advantage Lithium believes that drilling deeper holes at Clayton NE could intersect additional aquifers potentially hosting brines of similar or better contents of lithium than were encountered in the relatively shallow historical hole.
- Nevada Sunrise is the operator of the Clayton NE project.
Additional Company Progress
- In total, the Advantage Lithium JV has a portfolio of five projects in the Clayton and Lida Valley region, of which four are drill ready. Ross McElroy, Director and Technical Advisor to the Company, will oversee the Company's work programs.
- To assist with marketing and public relations, the Company has hired Matthews Investments Corp., Distinct Public Relations and Swiss Resource Capital AG.
- As part of its goal to become a lithium producer, the Company continues to identify and evaluate projects, with an emphasis on South America.
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Ross McElroy, P.Geol., Technical Advisor to Advantage Lithium Corp., and the Designated Qualified person for the company.