Led by an extensive team of industry experts, Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. is expanding Argentina’s lithium potential to support a greener future through its various lithium exploration projects. Shawn Perger, Investor Relations Manager, details the company’s efforts.
The global demand for a cleaner, greener future is a goal that Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. (TSX-V: LIT, OTC:PNXLF, FSE:OAY2) believes it can support through exploration for alternative fuel materials. Lithium is often referred to as ‘white gold’ due to unprecedented demand for the material from battery manufacturers. Therefore, expanding Argentina’s lithium potential has become a vital endeavour.
Lithium batteries have become the front-running rechargeable energy storage medium, particularly for the rapidly growing electric vehicle industry, creating a strong demand forecast for lithium.
Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management team that pioneered the mineral exploration industry in Argentina and has operated there since 1993. The group has made four exceptional metal deposit discoveries and broadened its focus to include alternative fuels in the mid-2000s. Argentina comprises a significant portion of the Lithium Triangle, home to more than half of the world’s lithium resources.
The Grosso Group has been following the lithium battery sector and believes this is the time to expand its efforts in lithium resource development in the highly prospective Argentinean portion of the Lithium Triangle. The Grosso Group leverages its vast network of local, regional and international industry contacts to support the exploration team in their search for quality resource opportunities.
Argentina produces 10% of the world’s lithium, is a top-four global producer, and hosts approximately 60% of the known lithium reserves. Argentina Lithium is focusing its activities on the Lithium Triangle, which, including parts of northern Argentina, produces about half of the world’s lithium. Most lithium in the area is in Salt Lake (salar brines). Argentina’s government is encouraging renewable energy initiatives, including setting the conditions for delineating and advancing new lithium resources in the country.
Our Argentinean lithium properties
The Rincon West lithium project
On May 31, 2022, we announced the commencement of exploration drilling at the Rincon West lithium project in Salta Province, Argentina. Five exploration holes are initially planned for multiple perspective brine targets identified from the geophysical survey data. This drill programme is expected to require four months to complete.
The Rincon West Project covers 2,470 hectares of the salar basin, located west of the adjacent Rincon Project owned by Rio Tinto. Previously announced geophysics results delineated highly conductive units consistent with concentrated brine aquifers over 64% of the property area.
Argentina Lithium has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Rincon West project.
“The Rincon West project has never been drilled, though it is highly prospective. In this initial campaign, we are looking for high lithium grades and horizons that can produce high flow rates for a potential future production operation. The initial exploration holes have been located on the geophysics traverses to allow extrapolation of drill results more broadly across the geophysics coverage. Since the geophysics produced multiple exceptional targets, we hope to produce positive results early in this program,” stated Miles Rideout, our Vice President of Exploration.
The Antofalla North project
The Antofalla North controls 14,987 hectares of mining leases in the north end of the Salar de Antofalla, distributed between the adjacent provinces of Salta and Catamarca, with 100% interest in 9,080 hectares and the remaining leases held under option.
The project is located approximately 25km west of Argentina’s largest lithium-producing operation at Salar de Hombre Muerto. The southern boundary of the Antofalla North project is situated around 500m north of properties controlled by global lithium producer Albemarle Inc. Albemarle has stated that it believes the lithium resource on its property has the potential to rank amongst the largest in Argentina.
The company plans to execute intensive geophysical reconnaissance at the Antofall project in the second half of 2022, leading to drilling in early 2023.
The Pocitos project
Argentina Lithium has an option to earn a 100% interest in approximately 15,857 hectares of claims in 11 contiguous mining concessions located on the west side of the Pocitos Salar, as well as an additional 10,364 hectares in three blocks to the east and south. It is approximately 38km from the Company’s Rincon West project in Salta Province, Argentina. The salar is well located proximal to other lithium-bearing salars, and the project has seen limited exploration by previous operators, presenting an opportunity for new discoveries.
Argentina Lithium will apply its deep-imaging expertise to identify new conductive brine aquifers for drill testing at this large, underexplored basin.
The Incahuasi project
Argentina Lithium has acquired a 100% interest in over 25,000 hectares of the Incahuasi Salar and basin in Catamarca province. The company believes Incahuasi is underexplored and supports conditions for quality lithium brines at depth.
The Incahuasi salar is located in the province of Catamarca in the high plateau (Puna) region of northwestern Argentina, at an altitude of approximately 3,300m above sea level. The salar is located in a hyper-arid region, receiving on average less than 30mm of rain per year, a necessary condition for creating evaporative brines.
Work is planned to apply advanced geophysics to identify new conductive brine aquifers for drill testing. The company believes that Incahuasi is underexplored and supports conditions for quality lithium brines at depth.
Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. management team
Chairman of the Board and Director: Joseph Grosso
Mr Grosso became one of the early pioneers of the mining sector in Argentina in 1993 when mining was opened to foreign investment and was named Argentina’s ‘Mining Man of The Year’ in 2005. His knowledge of Argentina was instrumental in attracting a premier team, leading to acquiring key properties in Golden Arrow’s portfolio.
He has successfully formed strategic alliances and negotiated with mining industry majors such as Barrick, Teck, Newmont, Viceroy (now Yamana Gold), Vale S.A., and government officials at all levels. Mr Grosso’s speciality is financing, negotiations, and corporate and marketing strategy. He was an early and passionate adopter of best practices in environmental protection and socio-economic development through mineral exploration. He is the founder and president of Grosso Group Management Ltd.
President, CEO and Director: Nikolaos Cacos, M.I.M.
Mr Cacos brings over 30 years of executive-level management and advisory expertise in the mineral exploration industry. Since its inception, he has worked with Grosso Group and serves as a senior-level executive for all the member companies. Mr Cacos’ career includes administration, structuring and strategic planning for public companies.
He currently serves as an officer and director of several TSX Venture Exchange listed companies. He holds a Master of International Management degree from Heidelberg, Germany, and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.c) degree from the University of British Columbia.
Vice President of Exploration: Miles Rideout
Mr Rideout has 34 years of experience in advanced exploration practice, responsible business management, scientific team building, and mining integration with local communities and indigenous peoples.
In recent positions, Mr Rideout has directly managed the acquisition and exploration of dozens of lithium properties in northern Argentina. Previously he served five years as CEO of Latin American Minerals, Inc. (TSX VENTURE:LAT), advancing gold and diamond projects in Paraguay, and 23 years with Quantec Geoscience, Inc., where he initiated operations in South America and managed subsidiaries in several countries.
He has experience in mine permitting, financing, construction, and operations (implemented the first operating mine in Paraguay). In addition, Mr Rideout has deep expertise with all major geophysical technologies applied within the mining industry and decades of experience working with many of the most successful exploration teams in South America.
He participated in the discovery of several world-class deposits, including the Collahuasi and Ujina copper-porphyry deposits, Veladero epithermal gold deposit, and Navidad VMS/epithermal silver deposit. Mr Rideout holds a B.Sc. with Honors Certificate in Geophysics from the University of Western Ontario (1987). Fluent in English and Spanish, he has lived in Mendoza, Argentina, for over 20 years.
Director: John Gammon
Dr Gammon has 40 years of experience in mineral exploration and management, including international positions with Falconbridge, Assistant Deputy Minister Mines and Minerals with the Government of Ontario and, since his retirement, as ADM as a consultant working with industry, governments and universities.
In addition to Dr Gammon’s mineral exploration experience, he has also spent significant time on the aboriginal community and environmental issues. His knowledge of the Spanish language and South American culture and societies brings a depth, in addition to his industry experience, that can assist the company with advancing its projects in Argentina.
Argentina’s new government is encouraging foreign investment and renewable energy initiatives. The combination of high geological potential and a favourable investment climate has set the conditions for delineating and advancing new lithium resources in Argentina.
Please note, this article will also appear in the eleventh edition of our quarterly publication.
