International Lithium Provides Drill Program Update

Battery Metals

International Lithium (TSXV:ILC.V) provided updates on drilling at its Mariana project in Argentina and its Avalonia project in Ireland. Results to date have confirmed that Salar de Llullaillaco is a mature salar that bears stratigraphic resemblance to other prominent salars in the region.

International Lithium (TSXV:ILC.V) provided updates on drilling at its Mariana project in Argentina and its Avalonia project in Ireland. Results to date have confirmed that Salar de Llullaillaco is a mature salar that bears stratigraphic resemblance to other prominent salars in the region.

A 171 metre drill hole (“MA15-09PW”) was completed near the centre of the salar. Core samples recovered give a more detailed stratigraphic section than was possible through previous reverse circulation drilling. Core logging of the two aquifers in the upper levels of the salar confirms that the upper aquifer consists of granular and massive halite, interbedded with silt and fine tuffs from surface to a depth of 30 metres and that the second aquifer, consists of medium to coarse grained gravels in a sandy matrix from 53 to 119 metres depth. MA15-09PW ended in approximately 52 metres of massive halite approximately 50 metres deeper than previous drilling. A borehole geophysical survey is interpreted to confirm this stratigraphy based on the resistivity profile.

Drill hole MA15-09PW is nearing completion in preparation for pump tests. These tests will provide hydrological characteristics of the two brine aquifers under pumping conditions and their response after pumping. These are important characteristics that are used to determine the potential rate at which brine could be drawn from the upper aquifers. This will be the first pump test conducted at the project.

The results to date confirm that Salar de Llullaillaco is a halite dominant, mature salar that bears a significant stratigraphic resemblance to prominent salars in the region including Atacama, Rincon and Uyuni. The Mariana project is a partnership of Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., (“GFL”) and ILC with 100% ownership of Salar de Llullaillaco in Salta province.

International Lithium president, Kirill Klip, said:

We are highly encouraged by what we are learning about the thick brine aquifers at Mariana. We look forward to completing the pump test which will give us a sense of the potential productivity of wells in these aquifers and we are confident that our plan to acquire these key preliminary hydrological results prior to a mineral resource estimation is both an expeditious and cost effective approach toward an initial production assessment.

At International Lithium’s Avalonia project in Ireland, drilling is testing two areas near the centre of a 30 kilometer long lithium-pegmatite:

Exploration in Ireland resumed early this year as a continuation of the extensive mapping, prospecting and regional geochemical survey begun in August 2014. During April and May 2015 core drilling was used to test two areas near the centre of the 30 kilometre long lithium-pegmatite belt where prospecting and soil geochemistry had indicated potential for previously untested targets. Drilling consisted of two lines of short holes forming fences to identify bedrock sources of geochemical anomalies and spodumene bearing boulder trains. Both fences have intersected multiple phases of pegmatite intrusion in the targeted areas. The Company is awaiting laboratory results to confirm which phases are mineralized. A total of approximately 680 metres of NQ size core was drilled in 15 holes. Drilling services were provided by Priority Drilling, an established Irish drilling company.

Only two targets were tested by preliminary drilling leaving numerous new and historical targets either drill ready or only requiring target detailing by geochemical sampling or trenching prior to drilling. Drilling used oriented core technology, which provided information on the structural orientation of the pegmatites as preparation for future drill targeting.

Click here to read the International Lithium (TSXV:ILC.V) press release

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