VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 19,
2022 /CNW/ -- Lithium South Development
Corporation (the "Company") (TSX-V: LIS) (OTCQB: LISMF)
(Frankfurt: OGPQ). The Company is pleased to provide an update on
process test work currently being conducted on a 12,500-liter bulk
brine sample from the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project (HMN Li
Project), located in Salta. Argentina. The purpose of the test work is to
validate evaporation as a viable concentration method to produce
battery grade lithium carbonate. The work is performed as part of
the preparations for a potential on site pilot-plant aiming to
validate the process for the Feasibility Study. The work is being
performed by Eon Minerals a Delaware based company with laboratory
facilities in Salta, Argentina.
The work is being supervised by Alex
Mezei, P. Eng., a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
We are pleased to report lithium recoveries of 86% for the
pre-concentration evaporation, 80% for liming and 97% for
concentration evaporation. The cumulative lithium recovery after
these front-end stages was 67%.
A sample of the resulting concentrated brine was subjected to
preliminary laboratory testing by solvent extraction (SX). The
results produced a raffinate containing about 12 mg/L at nearly 99%
boron removal efficiency. The key chemical analyses were confirmed
by duplicates performed at Alex Stewart and SGS laboratories, both
ISO Certified and located in Argentina.
Based on these results, the bulk SX stage was initiated on 210 L
of concentrated brine sample containing 14.4 g/L Li (1.25% wt.
Li).
The sample produced by the current SX work will be further
subjected to advanced test work aiming to produce a battery grade
lithium carbonate sample. The interim stage involves a carbonation,
bicarbonation and ion exchange.
Based on the metallurgical response of the sample during the
pre-concentration, liming, concentration and SX stages, the results
to date are indicative of a realistic possibility for achieving the
purity requirements for the battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Company Director and Chief Operating Officer, Fernando Villarroel states, "We are very pleased
with these results which demonstrate our team has the expertise to
produce a clean brine ready to produce Lithium Carbonate battery
grade."
Lithium South's resource expansion drill program is underway at
the Alba Sabrina claim block on the world-renowned Hombre Muerto
Salar. A second drill rig is being added to move the drill program
forward and potentially expand the current Lithium Carbonate
Resource. View the active drilling on our live stream at
www.lithiumsouth.com/live-cam.
About Eon Minerals
Eon Minerals of Delaware has a
fully capable laboratory in Salta Argentina, equipped for lithium
test work. The company is well experienced in the lithium industry.
Past and current clients include Ganfeng Lithium, Neolithium and
Rincon Ltd. Eon staff includes Susana Martinez PhD in Chemistry
with specialization in synthesis and nanomaterials, Ivan Machin PhD
in Chemistry with specialization in thermodynamic and catalysis,
Lorena Perez MSc with experience in R&D of technologies, and
Gonzalo Chaparro, Process Engineer,
who has participated to several projects in Argentina. The team has a joint experience of
more than 50 years in process development, and more than 15 years
with specific lithium experience. The Company is owned and operated
by Fernando Villarroel, Vice
President and a director of the Company.
About Lithium South
Lithium South is the 100% owner of the HMN Lithium Project
located in Salta Province,
Argentina. The HMN Li Project is
at an advanced stage of evaluation, with a Preliminary Economic
Assessment completed in April 2019.
Currently a drill program is underway to potentially expand the
current resource. Preliminary results support this expectation.
Additional project work including permitting, environmental studies
and process test work are ongoing.
The HMN Li Project is adjacent to a US$840 million lithium mine under development by
the Korean multinational corporation POSCO, which acquired their
holdings from Galaxy Resources Ltd. for US$280 million. Livent Corporation is producing
lithium south of the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project and has
operated there for over twenty-five years.
The Company is evaluating a conventional evaporation process
method, and Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) as an alternative
method. DLE test work on 2,000-liter brine samples is currently in
progress by Chemphys Chengdu, in China, and Eon Minerals in Salta, Argentina.
This news release was reviewed and approved by Mr.
Alex Mezei, P.Eng., a Qualified
Person for the purposes of NI 43-101, and technical consultant to
the Company. Mr. Mezei participated in the production of this news
release and approved of the scientific disclosure contained
herein.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Adrian F. C. Hobkirk
President and Chief Executive Officer
Investors / Shareholders call 855-415-8100 / website:
www.lithiumsouth.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed the content
of this news release and therefore does not accept responsibility
or liability for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this
news release.
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of
historical fact relating to the Company, certain information
contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based upon opinions and estimates of
management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a
variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors which could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in
the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to
place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. We seek safe
harbor.
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SOURCE Lithium South Development Corporation