Lithium Ionic Hits High-Grade Mineralization in Pursuit of Brazil’s Hard-Rock Lithium

Brazil, the fifth-largest lithium producer globally, has a rich history of lithium mining. The country’s annual production of 1.4 kt lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) is primarily derived from lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite deposits. Companhia Brasileira de Lítio (CBL) and Sigma Lithium are among the top lithium producers in the country.

Among Lithium Ionic’s various projects in Brazil is the Salinas Lithium Project, located within the lithium-rich Aracuai Pegmatite District in the northern region of Brazil’s Minas Gerais State. The project is strategically situated approximately 100 km north of Lithium Ionic’s Itinga Lithium Project, which includes the Bandeira and Outro Lado lithium deposits.

The Salinas project’s geography is notable for its proximity to Latin Resources’ Colina lithium deposit, which reportedly contains 45.2Mt grading 1.34% Li2O. The Salinas mineralized pegmatite veins extend directly east of this deposit, indicating a promising lithium-rich environment.

Lithium Ionic acquired the Salinas project back in March this year. In 2022, the previous owner, Neolit Minerals, completed a 4,000-metre, 24-hole, drill program which yielded excellent results, including highlights of 1.53% Li2O over 11.4 metres, 1.22% Li2O over 13.8 metres, 1.71% Li2O over 9.8 metres and 1.19% Li2O over 13.4 metres. 

These impressive results provided a foundation for Lithium Ionic’s current exploration campaign (commenced in May) that is focused on drilling to test and delineate multiple outcropping spodumene-rich pegmatite bodies.

The initial results from this 20,000-metre drill program at Salinas have been encouraging. 

Highlights include an intercept of 1.38% Li2O over 16 metres near the surface from 40.4 metres, representing the strongest intercept to date at Salinas. 

Other significant intercepts include 1.60% Li2O over 12 metres from 68.2 metres and 1.55% Li2O over 9 metres from 129 metres. These results confirm the continuity of lithium mineralization with good grades and widths between the wide-spaced drill holes completed in 2022 by the previous owner.

Blake Hylands, CEO of Lithium Ionic, commented “The initial results from Salinas confirm continuity of lithium mineralization with good grades and widths between the wide spaced drill holes completed in 2022 by the previous owner.” 

“These results, along with the significant growth seen at the Colina deposit only 500 metres west of our drilling site, as well as numerous historical artisanal workings that span decades of activity to the east, provide a strong indication of the potential for Salinas to quickly develop into an important part of our growing portfolio of lithium deposits.”

The Salinas project is part of a larger 50,000-metre drill program underway for H2 2023.

The drilling is also targeting the company’s other high priority growth targets at the Itinga Lithium Project, including the Bandeira and Outro Lado lithium deposits, as well as the adjacent Itira target.

Lithium Ionic currently has thirteen drills operating at four different deposit areas. 

The early drill results from Lithium Ionic’s Salinas project are promising. The company plans to continue its exploration efforts, with the goal of further delineating the lithium-rich pegmatite bodies and expanding its lithium resource base. 

As the world continues to shift towards renewable energy sources, the demand for lithium is expected to surge, making the exploration and development of lithium-rich projects like Salinas increasingly important. Lithium Ionic’s strategic focus on hard-rock lithium exploration, coupled with its promising initial results, positions the company to potentially play a significant role in supplying this critical resource.