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Lithium was discovered in 1817 and is the lightest metal on Earth.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s 2012 report shows that Argentina has lithium reserves of 850,000 tonnes. The country produced 2,950 tonnes of the metal in 2010 and 3,200 tonnes in 2011.
Lithium is found on salt flats – known as Salars- across Argentina, with the most notable being Salar de Olaroz. Apart from Salar de Olaroz, Argentina is home to three other main salt flat sites: Salar del Rincon, Salar de Hombre Muerto and Salar del Rio Grande. All are located in the northwest. Argentina also hosts dozens of small salars scattered throughout its borders. The country contain 15 percent to 16 percent of the Lithium Triangle’s supply.
For investors looking for exposure to Argentina’s lithium market, here is a selection of companies for your consideration:
The Argentina-based industrial minerals company works in the construction and operation of lithium, potash and boron projects. According to its website, it is one of the leading companies in the Lithium Triangle.
Orocobre’s flagship asset is the Salar de Olaroz project in the Puna region of Argentina. There, it is building the first large-scale, de-novo brine-based lithium project in 20 years. Toyota Tsusho Corporation (FRA:9TO) is in a partnership with Orocobre for this property.
Construction at Salar de Olaroz commenced in November 2012 and the company hopes battery-grade lithium carbonate production will begin in April 2014. The asset’s lithium carbonate design capacity was recently increased from 16,400 tonnes per annum to 17,500 tonnes per annum.
Junior exploration company Lithium Americas focuses on exploring lithium, potassium, borax and other minerals in Argentina.
Its main project is the Cauchari-Olaroz project, located in the heart of the Puna Plateau in Argentina next to Orocobre’s property. According to the company website, the site has the third largest lithium brine resources in the world.
The most recent estimate found the Cauchari-Olaroz project has enough proven and probable reserves to operate at a maximum lithium carbonate production rate of 40,000 tonnes per annum for 40 years. The company expects it will begin generating revenue from this asset by 2015.
Lithium Exploration Group (OTCBB:LEXG)
The U.S.-based junior mining company’s main focus is on developing lithium assets in Canada, but it also has a 60 percent stake in the Salta Project in northwest Argentina. This project is made up of five properties, according to Lithium Exploration Group’s website.
The Salta asset is Lithium Exploration’s most recent acquisition. Its mining potential stems from its favorable stratigraphy and subsurface brines. A recent report found that “there could be many millions of tons of lithium buried in the Salar’s mudflat and/or the marginal alluvial fans.” The lithium in the site’s surface water was found to be at a maximum concentration of 19 parts per million.
International Lithium Corp (TSXV:ILC)
International Lithium is currently working on the Mariana lithium brine project. Mariana is a lithium-potassium-boron deposit that covers 16,000 hectares in within the Lithium Triangle. The project has returned grades of 225-670 mg/L of lithium. International Lithium, which is 25 percent owned by the TNR Gold Group, also has a strategic partner in Ganfeng Lithium Co, which holds a 17.5 percent stake in the company.
According to the International Lithium’s website, the company should have a resource estimate and be on the way to the pre-feasibility study in 2013.