Hole AS03 was drilled to 260 meters. The average of depth-discrete packer samples is 663 mg/L Li, with a range of 320 to 752 mg/L Li. It was determined upon completion that the last sample taken at 260 meters (320 mg/L Li) was likely diluted by inflow from a shallow aquifer, due to a leak in the packer system.
After drilling and packer sampling, the borehole was completed as a long-screen monitor well. It was then developed to remove drilling mud and any fluids that entered during packer sampling. A sample taken from the long-screen well returned a value of 757 mg/L Li.
Hole AS05 was drilled to 220 meters. The average of the packer samples is 705 mg/L Li, with a range of 434 to 792 mg/L Li. The low concentration (434 mg/L) was measured in the shallowest sample (<50 m depth).
Hole AS06 was drilled to 180 meters. The average of the packer samples is 644 mg/L Li, with a range from 525 to 710 mg/L Li.
Drilling to date has delineated a brine-containing sub-basin approximately 1.2 kilometers wide by 7.6 kilometers in length, extending northward from the main basin of Hombre Muerto Salar. The drill plan included a line of four core holes north to south along the axis of the sub-basin, and three control holes along the west side of the sub-basin. The purpose of the control holes is to define the west side of the sub-basin and to determine if the western boundary was affected by freshwater inputs. All holes have encountered significant thicknesses of brine.
Hole AS07 (also a western boundary borehole) is in progress. When ASO7 is complete, the Company will publish an updated drill plan and results. The rig will then move to the Natalia Maria claim block located east of the current location. A road and drill pad have already been constructed.
An updated resource will be calculated when the Natalia Maria drill is completed and sampled.
Company President Adrian F.C. Hobkirk is quoted, "We are very pleased with the exploration results to date and look forward to the calculation of an upgraded lithium resource at the HMN Li Project."