Rodinia Lithium confirms high transmissivity, effective porosity at Salar de Diablillos project

Canada's Rodinia Lithium (CVE:RM) reported on Thursday that initial pump and tracer tests to assess deep and shallow aquifers at its Salar de Diablillos lithium-brine project in Argentina confirmed high transmissivity and effective porosity values, tranlating into high recovery rates per well.
“The results of these pump tests are a resounding success for the company and an important step in confirming the productive potential of the Salar," said president and CEO, William Randall.
"The resultant high transmissivity and effective porosity values, as determined by these tests, confirm Diablillos’ very large recoverable resource, and allow us to estimate the well requirements for our upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment, which we expect to be able to deliver in the fourth quarter of this year.”
The Salar de Diablillos property, which rests about 145 kilometres southwest of the city of Salta, has a recoverable inferred brine resource of 2.8 million tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent from an in-situ inferred brine resource of 4.9 million tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent.
According to results, there is a total estimated transmissivity of more than 300 square metres per day, with horizontal hydraulic conductivity of about 4 metres a day, high enough for efficient brine extraction by a system of pumping wells, the company said.
Further, initial interpretation of a tracer test conducted in the deep aquifer shows an average effective porosity in sediments of about 15%, which indicates a higher likelihood for recovery of the in-situ lithium brine resource. The company said effective porosity values are in line with those in the previously released recoverable resource estimate.
Typically, when lithium is recovered from brine (considered the more economical and environmentally friendly process as opposed to hard rock), brine is pumped from subsurface aquifers, through a circuit of evaporation ponds to increase concentration.
High grades and recovery rates, favourable lithologies, low magnesium ratios and high specific yield rates are required to ensure enough contained brine will drain out of a formation by pumping.
Last month, the company confirmed the positive properties of the acquifers, as it said drilling at the site has consistently intersected sand and gravel dominant lithologies, with recoveries of between 10% and 100%, an important insight into what Rodinia's eventual production scenario should look like as brine typically flows much better when in loose sand and gravel, producing acquifers with high specific yield values.
Pumping tests were carried out for 18 hours and 72 hours and consisted of two pumping wells and four monitoring wells. Tracer dye was injected into an observation well within the lower sediments to monitor brine flow, and a cyclone was used to neutralize the effects of the gas dissolution from the brine.
Earlier this year, Rodinia hired SRK Consulting to design and supervise ongoing pumping tests and to finish the company’s Preliminary Economic Assessment, which is expected sometime in fourth-quarter.
SRK, which has extensive experience with in-situ recovery and brine extraction type projects, offers mining project evaluations, water management, feasibility studies, open pit mine design, as well as geotechnical services.
For the remainder of the year, Rodinia will focus on continuing to develop the Diablillos project by completing additional drilling and advancing it through to a scoping study.
Rodinia Lithium is a junior mineral explorer with a primary focus on lithium in North and South America. It is also actively exploring the commercialization of a significant potash co-product that is expected to be recoverable through the lithium harvesting process.
In addition to its Argentina project, the company holds 100% mineral rights to approximately 70,000 acres in Nevada's lithium-rich Clayton Valley in Esmeralda County, and is currently in the process of assessing the size, quality and processing alternatives of the deposit.
Shares of Rodinia closed Wednesday at 16 cents on the TSX-Venture Exchange.