Jan 14 2011
Rodinia Lithium Inc. (TSX VENTURE:RM)(OTCQX:RDNAF), has reported that it has completed its initial exploration program on its Salar de Diablillos lithium brine project in Salta, Argentina.
The Company has successfully completed 16 reverse circulation drill holes covering the Salar to depths of up to 264 metres. In addition the Company has completed surface gravity and down hole geophysical surveys that will allow the estimation of the basin volume and porosity, respectively.
William Randall, President and CEO of Rodinia, commented "this is a major milestone in the development of the Company. We now have the data required to complete an initial resource estimate, which will shift the Company into a more prominent position within the lithium mining sector. We are very excited about the results of the exploration program, having defined a mineralized area of approximately 3,200 hectares that exceeds the boundaries of the Salar itself and extends to significant depths, the majority of which is comprised of highly porous material averaging 38 percent porosity."
The reverse circulation drill holes were drilled vertically to ensure proper representation of the stratigraphic column. As in the previous drill holes the stratigraphy is composed primarily of sands and gravels. The clay content in all holes drilled to date continues to be low to negligible. The five holes did not reach basement rock and are open at depth; in many cases the lithium grade has increased slightly at depth.
Preliminary down hole geophysical data have been received and indicate porosity values generally ranging from 20 to 60%, with an average value for all surveyed holes of 38.4%. This figure represents the void space that is potentially occupied by lithium-rich brines within the mineralized aquifers.
As previously announced (November 17, 2010) AMEC Internacional Ingeniería y Construcción Limitada ("AMEC") has been contracted to complete an initial mineral resource estimate for the Salar under the guidelines of National Instrument 43-101. Management anticipates being able to provide an update on this process over the next several weeks.
A sampling procedure was enforced by management to ensure sample integrity during the drill program. Where possible, brine and sediments samples were air lifted, and water restricted to the upper part of the hole before the water table was intercepted. Once brine bearing horizons were intercepted, drilling was halted and the drilling pipe lifted 2 feet or more to allow the total flushing of the internal pipe by means of air pressure for approximately ten minutes or until the brine appeared reasonably clean of sediment. After sufficient air lifting of the brine, a sample was collected in 500 ml sample bottles that had been washed three times with the brine. Liquid was also collected in five gallon buckets and the time of filling of the bucket recorded, in order to aid in quantifying the formational flow.
The Project is supervised by Ray Spanjers, Rodinia's Manager of Exploration. Mr. Spanjers is considered a qualified person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this release. According to the Company's sampling protocol, sample size is to exceed 500 millilitres and be stored in clean, secure containers for transportation. The prepared samples are then forwarded to the ALS Laboratory Group, Environmental Division, in Fort Collins, Co (USA) for analysis. A rigorous QA/QC program is implemented consisting of regular insertion of standards and blanks to ensure laboratory integrity.