Galan Lithium Ltd (ASX:GLN) has received permits to conduct a maiden drilling program over its Western Basin projects on Argentina's Hombre Muerto salar, which hosts high-grade and low impurity lithium deposits.
The permits have been granted by Secretaria de Estado de Mineria – Gobierno de Catamarca, the authority that approves drilling permits in Catamarca, Argentina.
Galan has been granted permits to drill a total of 14 holes plus five water bores within 18 months.
Work to enable access to the site to prepare for drilling is underway and drilling is expected to begin after this is completed.
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The drilling will target highly conductive anomalies recorded from controlled-source-audio-frequency-magnetotellurics (CSAMT) surveys completed in late September last year.
These were the first surveys conducted over these targets and cover alluvial fans interpreted by the company to overlie prospective salar.
This drilling follows recent completion of the initial resource drilling phase over the Candelas project in the southeast region of Hombre Muerto salar.
Targets of the program include Pata Pila and Rana de Sal.
Pata Pila covers a large alluvial fan along the western margin of the salar with the geophysical profile showing an upper, horizontal conductive layer of 2 kilometres being compatible with geological units interpreted to contain brines.
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Rana de Sal covers an alluvial fan area interpreted to overlie the salar with the geophysical profile showing a highly conductive response over 1.5 kilometres that is compatible with units interpreted to contain brines.
The eastern end shows the conductive anomaly remaining open as the line enters the salar in the area where Livent Corp (NYSE:LTHM) has its operations.
Hombre Muerto is proven to host the highest grade and lowest impurity levels within Argentina and is home to Livent Corp's El Fenix operation and Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX:GXY) and POSCO’s (NYSE:PKX) Sal de Vida project.