Jan 12 2017
Millennial Lithium Corp. (TSX VENTURE:ML)(FRANKFURT:A3N2)(OTCQB:MLNLF) ("Millennial" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the current drill program at Pastos Grandes was expanded to include a third drill site. The addition of this third drill site will enable Millennial to delineate a continuous resource block and complete an initial resource estimate, as final results are received.
To date, the Company has completed exploration drilling at two sites with favorable results. Both exploration holes encountered thick sequences of loose, brine-bearing sediments. Samples from both exploration holes have been shipped to laboratories in Argentina and Canada, and analytical results are expected shortly.
Exploration hole, PGMW1601 was completed to a depth of 355 metres (m) and encountered thick sequences of unconsolidated brine-bearing sand and gravel horizons from 19-58m, multiple permeable beds to 337m, including a highly permeable gravel layer from 316-322m, and uniform, unconsolidated sand to total depth. The hole was terminated due to drilling conditions as a result of loose sediments. Exploration hole, PGMW1602, collared over 1.5 kilometres west of PGMW1601, was drilled to a depth of 400 metres and encountered similar sequences of sediments with high porosity and permeability to total depth. This hole was also terminated due to loose ground conditions but deeper than the planned depth.
One metre interval packer samples were taken from both exploration holes at various depths to 275 metres. Density measurements for these samples are shown in the following table. Densities of all samples are indicative of brine from top to bottom and are consistent with near-surface lithium values in the western portion of the salar, as reported in previous exploration programs. Furthermore, brine flow was detected in all but one of the packer sampling intervals. Depth limitations of initial packer sampling beyond 275 metres are being addressed by sampling during pumping tests. Equipment with greater depth capacity has been added to the program, enabling packer sampling to now be completed to 400 metres.
The pumping test well, PGPW1601 was drilled at a diameter of 15 inches to a depth of 121 metres, and then 10 inches to the total depth of 380 metres. The well was completed with slotted casing (screen) at 10 inch and 6 inch diameters, with gravel pack from top to bottom, in order to capture brine from the numerous permeable layers. The well has been cleaned and is presently undergoing a 72-hour pumping test to determine the sustainability of pumping and overall effective porosity. Initial flow rates observed on site have been encouraging and the Company expects to receive final results shortly.
Iain Scarr, VP Development and Exploration, states "Adding a third well to our current exploration program will allow us to quickly move forward with an inaugural resource estimate, a key step in moving towards production at Pastos Grandes."
Millennial Lithium Corp. was recently added to the Solactive Lithium Index, which tracks the performance of the 25 largest listed companies whose main business operations are exploration, mining and/or investing in lithium.
This news release has been reviewed by Iain Scarr, VP Development and Exploration of the Company and a qualified person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101.