Pure Energy Releases Inferred Resource Estimate for Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project: 816,000 metric tonnes of LCE

Pure Energy Minerals (TSXV:PE,FWB:A111EG,OTC:HMGLF) released its Inferred Resource estimate for the Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project in Esmeralda County, Nevada: 816,000 metric tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE), present as easily-extractible brine in two aquifers (Main Ash Aquifer and Lower Aquifer System) beneath the Company’s 8,004 acres of claims. The Resource Estimate was based on two main aquifer units, the Main Ash Aquifer and the Lower Aquifer System, and used average lithium concentrations in the brine of 370-37 ppm, and total saturated thicknesses of the combined aquifers of 366 m in the northern section and 220 m in the southern section. Pure Energy has filed this technical report.
As quoted in the press release:

The Technical Report outlines an Inferred Resource estimate on the Clayton Valley Project of 816,000 metric tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE), present as easily-extractible brine in two aquifers (Main Ash Aquifer and Lower Aquifer System) beneath the Company’s 8,004 acres of claims. The claims are comprised of three contiguous blocks and overlie a deep basin structure. The in-situ lithium brine resource was estimated as follows:
To advance the Clayton Valley Project towards an Inferred Resource, the Company completed an intensive exploration programme consisting of drilling two new boreholes to a maximum depth of 970 ft. (296 m); installing one production-style well and completing long-term pumping tests; conducting detailed gravity surveys in the northern part of the claims; downhole geophysics; a cutting-edge seismic-reflection survey across the entire claim area; and geological mapping and analysis of a wide range of brine and soil samples. In addition, the Company was able to use data from two previous boreholes that had been drilled on the Project. Using these data, the Independent Qualified Professional was able to determine the following key aspects of the resource:
All four boreholes drilled to date have encountered lithium-brines;

• The boreholes drilled have not found the base of the lithium brine-bearing zones;
• The zones that host the brines appear to extend much deeper into the basin and extend laterally effectively continuously throughout the whole claim area of Pure Energy;
• Pumping tests show that the brine can be sustainably pumped at rates equivalent to those used for production on the adjacent Silver Peak property; and,
• The Inferred Resource of 816,000 metric tonnes of LCE was estimated using conservative parameters (details in the technical report www.pureenergyminerals.com).

The Resource Estimate was based on two main aquifer units, the Main Ash Aquifer (which was fully penetrated by all four boreholes) and the Lower Aquifer System (none of the boreholes found the base of this lithium-brine bearing aquifer), and used average lithium concentrations in the brine of 370-37 ppm, and total saturated thicknesses of the combined aquifers of 366 m in the northern section and 220 m in the southern section. Full details of the resource calculation are provided in the publically available report. Lithium concentrations and the saturated thickness of the brine-bearing zones were based solely on data from the boreholes, and the lateral extent of the aquifers was based on geophysical data. It is believed that the Resource Estimate is conservative given that the base of the lithium brine-bearing zone has not been found yet, and geophysics suggests that it extends significantly deeper than the maximum depth drilled to date.

Pure Energ CEO, Robert Mintak, said:

This initial resource estimate is an important step in validating the Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project and its potential. The current estimate is based on an average thickness of 300 metres only. The next stages of drilling will test the depth and potential extension of the deposit and test new zones recently discovered from our seismic reflection survey. This is an exciting time for Pure Energy, as we successfully complete key milestones of project development on-time and on-budget and are able to communicate to our investors the tremendous magnitude and potential of this strategically important resource.

Click here for the full Pure Energy Minerals (TSXV:PE,FWB:A111EG,OTC:HMGLF) press release.
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