Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
-
Upload
jon-castillo -
Category
Documents
-
view
214 -
download
0
Transcript of Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
1/174
TECHNICAL REPORT ON THEMARICUNGA LITHIUM PROJECT
REGION III, CHILE
NI 43-101 REPORT PREPARED FOR:
By:
Don Hains, P.Geo
Frits Reidel, CPG
April 17, 2012
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
2/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................... 1-1
2 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 2-1
3 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS ........................................................................... 3-1
4 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION .......................................................... 4-1
5 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE ANDPHYSIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 5-1
6 HISTORY .................................................................................................................. 6-1
7 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION ................................................... 7-1 8 DEPOSIT TYPES ...................................................................................................... 8-1
9 EXPLORATION ......................................................................................................... 9-1
10 DRILLING .............................................................................................................. 10-1
11 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES AND SECURITY ..................................... 11-1
12 DATA VERIFICATION ........................................................................................... 12-1
13 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING ............................... 13-1
14 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE ....................................................................... 14-1
15 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE .......................................................................... 15-1
16 MINING METHODS .............................................................................................. 16-1
17 RECOVERY METHODS ....................................................................................... 17-1
18 PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE ............................................................................ 18-1
19 MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS................................................................ 19-1
20 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND SOCIAL OR COMMUNITYIMPACT ............................................................................................................... 20-1
21 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS .................................................................... 21-1
22 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ........................................................................................ 22-1
23 ADJACENT PROPERTIES ................................................................................... 23-1
24 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION ................................................. 24-1
25 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................................ 25-1
26 RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................... 26-1
27 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 27-1
28 DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE ............................................................................ 28-1
29 CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSONS ........................................................... 29-1
30 APPENDICES ....................................................................................................... 30-1
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
3/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page ii
LIST OF TABLES
PAGE
Table 1.1: Average values (g/L) of key components and ratios of the Maricunga brine 1-3
Table 1.2: Summary of mineral resources April 9, 2012 ............................................ 1-4
Table 1.3: Lithium and potassium resources expressed as compounds ....................... 1-4
Table 1.4: Recommended budget ................................................................................ 1-5
Table 1.5: Property status ............................................................................................ 1-6
Table 1.6: Comparative chemical composition of natural brines .................................. 1-7
Table 1.7: Summary of mineral resources - April 9, 2012 1-9
Table 4.1: Property status ............................................................................................ 4-2
Table 4.2: Other Properties..4-4
Table 5.1: Average monthly temperature at the Marte Lobo project ............................. 5-1
Table 5.2: DGA station with historical precipitation records .......................................... 5-3
Table 5.3: Selected PUC-DGA weatherstations with partial precipitation records ......... 5-3
Table 5.4: Monthly solar radiation data for the Marte Lobo Stations ............................. 5-8
Table 5.5: Evaporation rates used for the basin water balance .................................. 5-11
Table 6.1: Corfo historic resource estimate Salar de Maricunga ................................... 6-2
Table 6.2: SLM lithium assay results summary ............................................................. 6-3
Table 6.3: Historic SLM lithium resource estimate ........................................................ 6-3
Table 6.4: Historic SLM lithium resource estimate ........................................................ 6-4
Table 7.1: Water balance for the Salar de Maricunga basin ......................................... 7-9
Table 7.2: Average, max, min, assays (g/l) and density (g/cm 3) results ...................... 7-11
Table 7.3: Average values (g/l) of key components and ratios of the Maricunga
brine ......................................................................................................... 7-11
Table 7.4: Comparative chemical composition of natural brines (weight %) ............... 7-13
Table 9.1: Results of trench pumping tests.9-11
Table 10.1: Sonic borehole locations ......................................................................... 10-3
Table 10.2: Summary of RC drilling program ............................................................. 10-5
Table 11.1: List of analyses requested from the University of Antofagasta and Alex
Steward Argentina S.A. Laboratories ...................................................... .11-6
Table 11.2: Standards analysis results from U. Antofagasta .................................... 11-15
Table 11.3: Check assays (U. Antofagasta vs Alex Steward): RMS regression
statistics ................................................................................................. 11-16
Table 11.4: Check assays between the U.Antofagasta and Alex Steward. .............. 11-17
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
4/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page iii
Table 11.5: Duplicate analysis from the U. Antofagasta .......................................... 11-20
Table 11.6: Results of laboratory specific yield (S y) analyses ................................... 11-26
Table 11.7: Preliminary BGS porosity and specific yield data ................................... 11-27
Table 13.1: Chemical composition (% weight) of brines used in the test work ............ 13-2
Table 13.2: Brine compositions during evaporation of the untreated brine .................. 13-3
Table 13.3: Salt compositions during evaporation of the untreated brine ................... 13-4
Table 13.4: Crystalized salts in the harvest ................................................................ 13-5
Table 13.5: Brine compositions during evaporation of the treated brine.13.8
Table 13.6: Salt compositions during evaporation of the treated brine13.8
Table 14.1: Average lithium and potassium grades .................................................... 14.2
Table 14.2: Summary of mineral resources April 9, 2012 .....14.17
Table 14.3: Lithium and potassium resources expressed as compounds14.17
Table 25.1: Average values (g/L) of key components and ratios of the Maricunga
brine..25-2
Table 25.2: Summary of mineral resources April 9, 2012..25-3
Table 26.1: Recommended budget..26-1
LIST OF FIGURES
PAGE
Figure 1.1: Comparision of brines from various salars in Janecke Projection .............. 1-8
Figure 4.1: Project location map ................................................................................... 4-1
Figure 4.2: Property location map ................................................................................. 4-3
Figure 5.1: Isoterm map for Salar de Maricunga .......................................................... 5-2
Figure 5.2a: Precipitation data for the Maricunga weather station (PUC-DGA) for
2007/2008 .................................................................................................. 5-4
Figure 5.2b: Precipitation data for the Pedernales Sur weather station (PUC-DGA) for
2007/2008 .................................................................................................. 5-4
Figure 5.3: Precipitation data for the Marte and Lobo stations for 2009/2010 ............... 5-5
Figure 5.4: Isohyet map for Salar de Maricunga ........................................................... 5-6
Figure 5.5: Solar radiation distribution in Chile ............................................................ 5-8
Figure 5.6: Average hourly solar radiation intensity at the Marte and Lobo stations for
2009/2010 ................................................................................................. 5-9
Figure 5.7: Elevation versus average annual pan evaporation ................................... 5.10
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
5/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page iv
Figure 5.8: Monthly distribution of average annual pan evaporation ......................... 5-11
Figure 5.9: Map of the Maricunga hydrographic basin ............................................... 5-14
Figure 6.1: Location map of wells drilled by Compania Mantos de Oro and Chevron
during 1988 and 1990 ................................................................................ 6-6
Figure 6.2: Lithological logs of Compania Mantos de Oro wells SP-2, SR-3 and
SR-6........................................................................................................... 6-7
Figure 6.3: Lithological logs of Compania Mantos de Oro wells SR-1, Sr-2, SR-4, SP-4
and Chevron well CAN-6 ........................................................................... 6-8
Figure 7.1: Regional geological map of the Maricunga basin ....................................... 7-4
Figure 7.2: Geomorphology of the Maricunga basin ..................................................... 7-6
Figure 7.3: General surface and groundwater flow patterns in the Salar de Maricunga
basin ....................................................................................................... 7-10
Figure 7.4: Comparison of brines in Janecke Projection ............................................ 7-13
Figure 9.1: Seismic refraction survey plan ................................................................... 9-2
Figure 9.2: Seismic tomography Line S1 .................................................................... 9-5
Figure 9.3: Seismic tomography Line S2 .................................................................... 9-6
Figure 9.4: Seismic tomography Line S3 .................................................................... 9-6
Figure 9.5: Seismic tomography Line S4 .................................................................... 9-7
Figure 9.6: Seismic tomography Line S5 .................................................................... 9-8
Figure 9.7: Seismic tomography Line S6..9-9
Figure 9.8: Test trench T6 in the upper halite zone ................................................... 9-11
Figure 9.8a-e: Pumping test analyses for trench pumping tests T1, T2, T3, T5, and
T6.9-12/13
Figure 10.1: Location map of the sonic bores (C1-C6) and RC holes (P1-P3) ........... 10-2
Figure 10.2: Sonic drilling operation ......................................................................... 10-3
Figure 10.3: Collecting RC airlfit flow measurement ................................................. 10-6
Figure 10.4: Installation of temporary casing during RC flooded well drilling ............. 10-6
Figure 10.5a-b: Analyses of P1 and P2 airlift recovery tests10-7
Figure 11.1: Collection of field parameters of the brine samples at the wellhead ...... 11-2
Figure 11.2: Porosity samples and brine samples .................................................... 11-3
Figure 11.3: RC drill chip samples ............................................................................ 11-4
Figure 11.4: Lithium results for Standard A (round robin left side) and Standard A
samples (14) inserted in the sample stream (right side) ........................... 11-9
Figure 11.5: Potassium results for Standard A (round robin left side) and Standard A
samples (14) inserted in the sample stream (right side) ......................... 11-10
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
6/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page v
Figure 11.6: Magnesium results for Standard A (round robin left side) and Standard A
samples (14) inserted in the sample stream (right side) ......................... 11-10
Figure 11.7: Lithium results for Standard B (round robin left side) and Standard B
samples (14) inserted in the sample stream (right side) ......................... 11-11
Figure 11.8: Potassium results for Standard B (round robin left side) and Standard B
samples (14) inserted in the sample stream (right side) ......................... 11-11
Figure 11.9: Magnesium results for Standard B (round robin left side) and Standard B
samples (14) inserted in the sample stream (right side) ......................... 11-12
Figure 11.10: Lithium results for Standard C (round robin left side) and Standard C
samples (14) inserted in the sample stream (right side) ......................... 11-12
Figure 11.11: Potassium results for Standard C (round robin left side) and Standard C
samples (14) inserted in the sample stream (right side) ......................... 11-13
Figure 11.12: Magnesium results for Standard C (round robin left side) and Standard C
samples (14) inserted in the sample stream (right side) ......................... 11-13
Figure 11.13: RMA plot-check samples for the fitted multiple regression model for
lithium (mg/l) .......................................................................................... 11-18
Figure 11.14: RMA plot-check samples for the fitted multiple regression model for
potassium (mg/l) .................................................................................... 11-18
Figure 11.15: RMA plot-check samples for the fitted multiple regression model for
magnesium (mg/l) .................................................................................. 11-19
Figure 11.16: RMA plot-duplicate samples for the fitted multiple regression model for
lithium (mg/l) .......................................................................................... 11-21
Figure 11.17: RMA plot-duplicate check samples for the fitted multiple regression model
for potassium (mg/l) ............................................................................... 11-21
Figure 11.18: RMA plot-duplicate samples for the fitted multiple regression model for
magnesium (mg/l) .................................................................................. 11-22
Figure 13.1: General view of the evaporation chambers ............................................ 13-2
Figure 13.2: Evaporation curves plotted versus % lithium in brine ............................ 13-6
Figure 13.3: Simulated representation of the evaporation path in the aqueous
quartenary systemof Ca-Mg-Li ................................................................. 13-7
Figure 13.4: Evaporation path of the untreated Maricunga brine in the Janecke diagram
of the aqueous quinary system (Na +, K+, Mg++, SO 4=, Cl-) at 25 0C ........... 13-7
Figure 13.5: Evaporation path of the treated Maricunga brine in the Janecke diagram of
the aqueous quinary system (Na+, K+, Mg++, SO4=, Cl-) at 25 0C .......... 13-9
Figure 14.1: Correlation lithium-porosity .................................................................... 14-2
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
7/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page vi
Figure 14.2: Parameters used to infer the experimental variograms .......................... 14-4
Figure 14.3: Lithium vertical direction ....................................................................... 14-4
Figure 14.4: Lithium in N-S direction ......................................................................... 14-5
Figure 14.5: Lithium in E-W direction ........................................................................ 14-5
Figure 14.6: Porosity in N-S direction ....................................................................... 14-6
Figure 14.7: Porosity in E-W direction ....................................................................... 14-6
Figure 14.8: Porosity in vertical direction ................................................................... 14-7
Figure 14.9: Grid characteristics, domain definition, and view of the lithium
concentrations in the boreholes ............................................................... 14-8
Figure 14.10: The results of kriging lithium concentration .......................................... 14-9
Figure 14.11: The results of kriging porosity .............................................................. 14-9
Figure 14.12: Three scenarios (realizations) for lithium concentration ..................... 14-10
Figure 14.13: Three scenarios for porosity .............................................................. 14-10
Figure 14.14: Systematic view of the total estimates ............................................... 14-12
Figure 14.15: Lithium grade distribution ................................................................... 14-12
Figure 14.16: Potassium grade distribution ............................................................. 14-13
Figure 14.17: Lithium concentration distribution at selected depths ......................... 14-14
Figure 14.18: Potassium concentration distribution at selected depths...14-15
Figure 14.19: Porosity distribution at selected depths .............................................. 14-16
Figure 19.1: Lithium demand by end use ................................................................... 19-1
Figure 19.2: Lithium consumption 2000 2011 ......................................................... 19-2
Figure 19.3: Demand forecast for lithium ................................................................... 19-2
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
8/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-1
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
This report (the Report) was commissioned by Mr. Luis Saenz, Chief Executive Officer
and Mr. Tom Currin, Chief Operating Officer of Li3 Energy (the Company or Li3). The
report details the results of an exploration program on the mineral claims held by the
Company in Salar de Maricunga in the Province of Copiapo, III Region of northern Chile.
The resource estimates are for lithium and potassium contained in brine.
This report has been prepared in conformance with the requirements of National
Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and the associated
Companion Policy 43-101CP and Form 43-101F1 of the Canadian SecuritiesAdministrators (modified June 24, 2011) and the associated Best Practice Guidelines for
Industrial Minerals and Mineral Processing as issued by the Canadian Institute of Mining
and Metallurgy. The Report also includes technical judgment of appropriate additional
technical parameters to accommodate certain specific characteristics of minerals hosted
in liquid brine as outlined in Ontario Securities Commission Staff Notice 43-704; the draft
Best Practice Guidelines for Reporting Brine Resources and Reserves as prepared by
one of the authors (Hains) and as discussed by Houston (Houston et al, 2011).
Conclusions
The Maricunga property is located approximately 160 km northeast of Copiapo in the III
Region of northern Chile at an elevation of approximately 3,800 masl. The property
comprises 1,438 ha as six mineral claims known as Litio 1 through Litio 6 located in the
northeast section of the Salar de Maricunga.
The Maricunga basin comprises a large drainage basin with an area of approximating
2,200 km2
. It is structurally controlled to the west by mountains which have been raisedby inverse faults that expose a basement sequence ranging in age from Upper
Paleozoic to Lower Tertiary. To the southeast, the basin limit coincides with the Chilean-
Argentine frontier, which is defined by a line of volcanic complexes with elevations up to
6,749 m (Nevada Tres Cruces) and a range of ages between 26 Ma and 6 Ma. Some of
the volcanic complexes are associated with the characteristically auriferous
mineralization of the Maricunga Belt. The eastern limit of the basin is marked by the
Cordillera Claudio Gay, a North-South trending mountain chain resting on a basement of
Middle to Upper Paleozoic rocks and exposing deformed volcanoclastic sequences of
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
9/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-2
Upper Oligocene to Lower Miocene rocks which represent remnants of the volcanic arc
preserved on the margins of the Maricunga basin.
The Salar de Maricunga is located in the northern part of the Maricunga basin and
covers some 140 km. The Salar is surrounded by alluvial deposits on the north, east
and south, and by volcanic deposits on the west.
The Salar itself is in-filled with alternating sequences of evaporates and clastic
sediments. Results of drilling carried out on the Li3 property indicate the presence of an
upper mixed halite sequence that consists of massive halite beds and halite mixed with
clay and silt-sized sediments with a combined thickness from 3 m to 66 m. This upper
zone is underlain by a sequence of silt and clays that are inter-bedded with coarser
grained sands, gravels, conglomerates, and volcanic ashes. The deepest hole drilled
on the property to 192 m did not insect bedrock.
Results of drainable porosity (specific yield) testing carried out by Daniel B Stephens
Laboratory in the USA indicate that the upper halite mix zone has an average drainable
porosity of 3.4 percent, the sand mix units have an average porosity of 6.1 and the silt
clay mixed layers 1.2 percent. Results of six pumping tests carried out on the upper
halite mix zone indicate average specific yield values of 20 percent and an averagehydraulic conductivity of 89 m/d, indicative of very permeable conditions in the upper
brine aquifer.
Salar de Maricunga is classified as a mixed type salar of the Na-Cl-Ca/SO4 system. The
brines from Maricunga are solutions saturated in sodium chloride with total dissolved
solids (TDS) of 26% (316 g/L) as an average, although in most areas exceeding 27%.
The average density is 1.200 g/cm 3. The other components present in these brines,
which constitute an aqueous complex system and exist also in other natural brines in
Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are the following: K, Li, Mg, Ca, SO 4, HCO 3 and B, which
below pH 7 exists predominantly as un-dissociated H 3BO3. Interesting values of
strontium (mean of 290 mg/L) also have been detected by ICP analysis in the Maricunga
brine. Table 1.1 provides an overview of the key components and ratios for the
Maricunga brine.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
10/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-3
Table 1.1 : Average values (g/L) of key components and ratios of the Maricunga brine
K Li Mg Ca SO 4 B Mg/Li K/Li (SO 4+2B)/(Ca+Mg)
8.97 1.25 8.28 12.42 0.72 0.61 6.63 7.18 0.184
The objectives of the 2011 drilling campaign were to carry out drilling on a specified grid
to allow the estimation of measured in-situ brine resources over the Li3 mineral claims
in Salar de Maricunga. The drilling method selected was based on the need to allow for
the collection of continuous core from which undisturbed samples at specified depth
intervals could be prepared for laboratory porosity analyses and for the collection of
depth-representative brine samples at specified depth intervals without possibility of
contamination by drilling fluids.
Six sonic boreholes were completed to a depth of 150 m. Undisturbed samples were
collected from the sonic core at three meter intervals for porosity analyses (318
samples). Brine samples were collected during the sonic drilling at three meter intervals
for chemistry analyses (431 primary main samples and 192 QA/QC samples). All sonic
boreholes were completed as observation wells on completion of drilling.
A total of 915 m of exploration RC drilling was carried out for the collection of chipsamples for geologic logging, brine samples for chemistry analyses and airlift data to
assess relative aquifer permeability. The RC boreholes were completed as observation
wells for use during future pumping tests. Two test production wells were installed to a
total depth of 150 m each for future pumping trials.
A seismic tomography survey was carried out (23 line km) to help define basin lithology
and basin geometry. Six test trenches were completed to a depth of 3 m to carry out
shallow pumping trials. 24 hour pumping tests were carried out in each trench.
Evaporation test work was initiated on the Maricunga brine at the University of
Antofagasta to evaluate the suitability of conventional brine processing techniques. Test
work was also initiated by Li3s strategic partners to evaluate the application of
proprietary technology on the recovery of lithium. This test work will continue throughout
2012 and 2013.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
11/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-4
Table 1.2 summarizes the resource estimate prepared for the Li3 mineral claims in Salar
de Maricunga. It is in the opinion of the authors that the brine chemistry and porosity
data sets developed for the project are adequate and appropriate to carry out such
resource estimates. Based on drilling and exploration results of the 2011 campaign the
brine deposit remains open in all directions beyond the boundaries of the Li3 claims and
at depth.
Table 1.2: Summary of mineral resources April 9, 2012
Lithium PotassiumMeasured Inferred Measured Inferred
Area (km ) 14.38 7.06 14.38 7.06Depth interval (m) 0-150 150-180 0-150 150-180Aquifer volume (km ) 2.157 0.212 2.157 0.212Avg grade (g/m ) 50 50 360 360Lithium metal (t) 107,850 10,590Potassium (t) 776,250 76,320Notes:1. CIM definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.2. The Qualified Persons for this Mineral Resource estimate are Donald H. Hains, P. Geo and
Frits Reidel, CPG.3. No cut-off values have been applied to the resource estimate4. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
The resources estimated above translate to the following lithium and potassium
resources expressed as lithium carbonate and potash (Table 1.3).
Table 1.3: Lithium and potassium resources expressed as compounds Lithium carbonate (t) Potash (t)
Measured Inferred Measured Inferred574,064 56,368
1,482,638 145,771
Results of airlift testing during the RC exploration drilling program and pumping tests on
test trenches indicate that future brine production can be achieved through a
combination of production wells and open trenches. The analyses of brine chemistry
indicate that the brine is amenable to lithium and potash recovery through conventional
technology. It is believed that through the application of proprietary technology
developed by Li3s strategic partners, lithium recovery from the Maricunga brine can be
significantly enhanced and may range from 45 percent to more than 70 percent. Pilot
scale test work will be initiated this year on the project site to further test lithium
recoveries using these technologies.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
12/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-5
Recommendations
It is the recommendation of the authors that a full feasibility study be completed for the
project. This work need to include:
Initiate pilot scale testing for the recovery of lithium and potash in the Salar.
Carry out long-term pumping tests on production wells P1 and P2 and develop a
three dimensional numerical groundwater flow model to assess the long-term
behavior of the brine aquifer and the effects of brine abstraction on the
Maricunga watershed.
Complete all environmental permitting for the project.
Finalize the selection of the site for the project processing facilities
Complete a feasibility-level design for the project infrastructure.
A two-phase program of work is proposed to accomplish the recommendations notedabove. The recommended budget to accomplish the work is detailed in Table 1.4. The
Phase 1 investigation will involve pilot scale testing of proprietary and conventional
process technologies. Based upon the results of and successful completion of Phase 1
work, the optimum process technology will be selected and further developed and tested
during Phase 2. The Phase 2 work program is contingent upon the successful
completion of Phase 1.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
13/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-6
Table 1.4: Recommended budget
& ( )
, 00,000 &
,0 0,000
, 0,000
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
14/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-7
TECHNICAL SUMMARY
Property description and location
The Maricunga property is located approximately 160 km northeast of Copiapo in the III
Region of northern Chile at an elevation of approximately 3,800 masl. Figure 4.1 shows
the location of the Project. The property is more particularly described as being centered
at approximately UTM Zone 19 493000 E, 7025000 N (PSAD 56 datum). The property
comprises 1,438 ha as six mineral claims known as Litio 1 through Litio 6 located in the
northeast section of the Salar de Maricunga (Figure 4.2)
Land tenure
The property is held as six mineral concessions registered under the names Sociedades
Legales Mineras (SLM Litio) LITIO 1 to 6 as detailed in Table 1.5:
Table 1.5: Property status PROPERTY MINING ROLE
NUMBERSURFACE(hectares)
REGISTERED OWNER
Litio 1, 1 al 29 03201-6516-4 130 SLM Litio 1 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaLitio 2, 1 al 30 03201-6517-2 143 SLM Litio 2 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaLitio 3, 1 al 58 03201-6518-4 286 SLM Litio 3 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaLitio 4, 1 al 60 03201-6519-4 300 SLM Litio 4 de la S. Hoyada de Maricunga
Litio 5, 1 al 60 03201-6520-2 297 SLM Litio 5 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaLitio 6, 1 al 60 03201-6521-0 282 SLM Litio 6 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaTotal 1.438
Existing infrastructure
Local infrastructure at the salar includes National Highway 31 and an electrical power
line running parallel to the highway. There is a customs post at the north end of the Salar
which is staffed on a 24-hour basis. Copiapo is located approximately 160 km west from
the property. A full range of mining related services is available in Copiapo.
History
SLM Litio acquired the Litio 1 6 concessions in 2004. Numerous other claim holders,
including Codelco and SQM, have extensive holdings on the Salar adjacent to and to the
south of the Litio 1-6 claims.
Previous resource estimate for the property have been based on surface sampling and
shallow drilling. These estimates are detailed in Tables 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5. The historical
results, while not NI 43-101 compliant, do show high lithium values in excess of 1,000
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
15/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-8
g/L and good potassium values. A due diligence NI 43-101 report on the Maricunga
prospect prepared by one of the authors (Hains) classified Maricunga as a Property of
Merit worthy of additional exploration.
Geology and mineralization
The Salar de Maricunga is an intermediate type salar of the Na-Cl-Ca/SO4 system. The
Salar compares favourably to other salars within the Chilean-Argentinian altiplano region
as illustrated by Table 1.6 and Figure 1.1.
Table 1.6: Comparative chemical composition of natural brines (weight %).
Salar deMaricunga
(Chile)
SilverPeak(USA)
Salar deAtacama
(Chile)
HombreMuerto
(Argentina)
Salar deCauchari
(Argentina)
Salar delRincon
(Argentina)
Salar deUyuni
(Bolivia)
Na 7.14 6.20 7.60 9.79 9.55 9.46 8.75
K 0.748 0.53 1.85 0.617 0.47 0.656 0.72
Li 0.104 0.023 0.150 0.062 0.052 0.033 0.035
Mg 0.69 0.03 0.96 0.085 0.131 0.303 0.65
Ca 1.035 0.02 0.031 0.053 0.034 0.059 0.046
SO 4 0.06 0.71 1.65 0.853 1.62 1.015 0.85
Cl 16.06 10.06 16.04 15.80 14.86 16.06 15.69
HCO 3 0.053 n.a. Traces 0.045 0.058 0.030 0.040
B 0.051 0.008 0.064 0.035 0.076 0.040 0.020
Density 1.200 n.a. 1.223 1.205 1.216 1.220 1.211
Mg/Li 6.63 1.43 6.40 1.37 2.52 9.29 18.6
K/Li 7.19 23.04 12.33 9.95 9.04 20.12 20.57
SO 4/Li 0.577 30.87 11.0 13.76 31.06 31.13 24.28
SO 4/Mg 0.087 23.67 1.72 10.04 12.33 3.35 1.308
Ca/Li 9.95 0.87 0.21 0.86 0.65 1.79 1.314
References: Published data and information from the authors
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
16/174
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
17/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-10
Mineral resources
Mineral resources have been estimated for the property as detailed in Table 1.7:
Table 1.7: Summary of mineral resources April 9, 2012
Lithium PotassiumMeasured Inferred Measured Inferred
Area (km ) 14.38 7.06 14.38 7.06Depth interval (m) 0-150 150-180 0-150 150-180Aquifer volume (km ) 2.157 0.212 2.157 0.212Avg grade (g/m ) 50 50 360 360Lithium metal (t) 107,850 10,590Potassium (t) 776,250 76,320
Notes:
1. CIM definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.2. The Qualified Persons for this Mineral Resource estimate are Donald H. Hains, P. Geo and FritsReidel, CPG.
3. No cut-off values have been applied to the resource estimate4. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
Mineral reserves
No mineral reserves have been estimated for the property.
Mining method
Results of airlift testing during the RC exploration drilling program and pumping tests on
test trenches indicate that future brine production can likely be achieved through a
combination of production wells and open trenches.
Mineral processing
No mineral processing flow sheet has been developed for the project. Investigations are
currently in progress to select a suitable process route.
Project infrastructureProject infrastructure for development of the project has not yet been defined.
Market studies
Market studies are currently in progress. Third party market forecasts project a robust
demand for lithium and lithium derivatives and for potash.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
18/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 1-11
Environmental, permitting and social considerations
Li3 is currently undertaking various studies related to environmental, permitting and
community relations. The impact of the results of these studies on the project is
unknown.
Capital and operating cost estimates
No capital and operating cost estimates for development of the project have been
prepared.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
19/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 2-1
2 INTRODUCTION
2.1 ObjectivesThis report (the Report) was commissioned by Mr. Luis Saenz, Chief Executive Officer
and Mr. Tom Currin, Chief Operating Officer of Li3 Energy (the Company or Li3). The
report details the results of an exploration program on the mineral claims held by the
Company in Salar de Maricunga in the Province of Copiapo, III Region of northern Chile.
The resource estimates are for lithium and potassium contained in brine.
This report has been prepared in conformance with the requirements of National
Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and the associatedCompanion Policy 43-101CP and Form 43-101F1 of the Canadian Securities
Administrators (modified June 24, 2011) and the associated Best Practice Guidelines for
Industrial Minerals and Mineral Processing as issued by the Canadian Institute of Mining
and Metallurgy. The Report also includes technical judgment of appropriate additional
technical parameters to accommodate certain specific characteristics of minerals hosted
in liquid brine as outlined in Ontario Securities Commission Staff Notice 43-704; the draft
Best Practice Guidelines for Reporting Brine Resources and Reserves as prepared by
one of the authors (Hains) and as discussed by Houston (Houston et al, 2011).
2.2 Sources of information
Site visits were carried out by Don Hains, Frits Reidel, Peter Ehren and Pedro Pavlovic
on numerous occasions during 2011 and 2012. Mr. Reidel was present throughout the
drilling and sampling program.
Discussions were held with personnel from Li3 Energy:
Mr. Tom Currin, P. Eng., Chief Operating Officer, Li3 Energy
Mr. Luis Saenz, Chief Executive Officer, Li3 Energy
Mr. Roberto Gaona, Chief Administrative Officer, Li3 Energy
The report was prepared by Don Hains, P.Geo and Frederik (Frits) Reidel, CPG, both
qualified persons (QPs) and who are independent of Li3 as such terms are defined by
NI 43-101. The authors have visited the project on numerous occasions during 2011
and 2012 and have relevant experience in the evaluation of brine deposits in the South
America. Mr. Hains has assumed overall responsibility for the report. Sections 7.4, 11,
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
20/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 2-2
12, 13 and 17 of the report have been prepared by Peter Ehren, M.Sc., M.AusIMM and
Pedro Pavlovic, M.Sc. (Chem. Eng.). Mr. Ehren is a consulting processing engineer and
prepared the report sections detailing brine characterization, brine processing and plant
development. Mr. Pavlovic is a chemical engineer and was responsible for the report
sections detailing quality control and quality assurance, metallurgical testing and
mineralization. Mr. Ehren and Mr. Pavlovic have both visited the Project during 2011 on
several occasions and have abundant relevant experience in the evaluation of brine
deposit chemistry and development and construction of brine processing plants. Both
Mr. Ehren and Mr. Pavlovic are independent of LI3 as defined under NI 43-101. The
authors have assumed responsibility for those sections of the report prepared by Mr.
Ehren and Mr. Pavlovic.
The authors would like to thank Luis Saenz, CEO, Tom Currin, COO, Marius Calmet,
Fernando Martin, Geologist and all field staff in the Salar for their support during the
course of the exploration program.
Information from historical brine exploration work carried out on the Li3 Maricunga claims
by its previous owners is described in Section 6.2. A significant amount of regional
hydrogeological and hydrochemistry information is available for the Salar de Maricunga
basin from studies carried out by the Direccion General de Aguas (DGA) in conjunction
with the University Catolica (PUC) on the Sistema Piloto III Region: Salar de Pedernales
y Salar de Maricunga between 2008 and 2009. The DGA-PUC investigation was
focused on the evaluation of water resources for the potential development of new water
supplies. Section 6.3 provides a list of the relevant hydrogeological studies that are
used as a source of information for the preparation of this Report.
The documentation reviewed, and other sources of information, are listed at the end of
this report in Section 27 References.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
21/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 2-3
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
All currency in this report is US dollars (US$) unless otherwise noted.
micron km square kilometerC degree Celsius kPa kilopascalF degree Fahrenheit kVA kilovolt-amperes g microgram kW kilowattA ampere kWh kilowatt-houra annum L litrebbl barrels L/s litres per secondBtu British thermal units M metreC$ Canadian dollars M mega (million)cal calorie m square metrecfm cubic feet per minute m cubic metrecm centimetre Min minutecm square centimetre MASL metres above sea level
d day Mm millimetredia. diameter Mph miles per hourdmt dry metric tonne MVA megavolt-amperesdwt dead-weight ton MW megawattft foot MWh megawatt-hourft/s foot per second m /h cubic metres per hourft square foot opt, oz/st ounce per short tonft cubic foot Oz Troy ounce (31.1035g)g gram Ppm part per millionG giga (billion) Psia pound per square inch absoluteGal Imperial gallon Psig pound per square inch gaugeg/L gram per litre RL relative elevationg/t gram per tonne S secondgpm Imperial gallons per minute St short tongr/ft grain per cubic foot Stpa short ton per yeargr/m grain per cubic metre Stpd short ton per dayhr hour T metric tonneha hectare Tpa metric tonne per yearhp horsepower Tpd metric tonne per dayin inch US$ United States dollarin square inch USg United States gallonJ joule USgpm US gallon per minutek kilo (thousand) V voltkcal kilocalorie W wattkg kilogram Wmt wet metric tonnekm kilometre yd cubic yardkm/h kilometre per hour Yr year
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
22/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 3-1
3 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS
The authors have relied on the following experts:
Sasha Bolling, Managing Director, Geophysical Exploration and Consulting S.A.,
regarding matters relating to seismic data processing and interpretation.
Gregoire Mariethoz, PhD, Hydrologist, School of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia, regarding matters relating
to the digital resource modeling.
Baker & McKenzie Abogados in Santiago de Chile for legal opinions on property
tenure status
The information, conclusions, opinions, and estimates contained in this Report are
based on:
Information available to the authors at the time of preparation of this report,
Assumptions, conditions, and qualifications as set forth in this report, and
Data, reports, and other information supplied by Li3 and other third party
sources.
For the purpose of this report, the authors have relied on ownership information provided
by Li3. Li3 has relied on a legal opinion by Baker and McKenzie dated March 13, 2012
respecting legal title to the property. The authors have not researched property titles or
mineral rights for the Maricunga Project and express no opinion as to the ownership
status of the property.
Except for the purposes legislated under provincial securities laws, any use of this report
by any third party is at that partys sole risk.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
23/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 4-1
4 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION
4.1 Location and property dimensions
The Maricunga property is located approximately 160 km northeast of Copiapo in the III
Region of northern Chile at an elevation of approximately 3,800 masl. Figure 4.1 shows
the location of the Project. The property is more particularly described as being centered
at approximately UTM Zone 19 493000 E, 7025000 N (PSAD 56 datum). The property
comprises 1,438 ha as six mineral claims known as Litio 1 through Litio 6 located in the
northeast section of the Salar de Maricunga (Figure 4.2)
Figure 4.1 : Project location map
4.2 Tenure
The property is held as six mineral concessions registered under the names Sociedades
Legales Mineras (SLM Litio) LITIO 1 de la Sierra Hoyada de Maricunga, LITIO 2 de la
Sierra Hoyada de Maricunga, LITIO 3 de la Sierra Hoyada de Maricunga, LITIO 4 de la
Sierra Hoyada de Maricunga, LITIO 5 de la Sierra Hoyada de Maricunga y LITIO 6 de la
Sierra Hoyada Maricunga. Each of the claims is subdivided into minas of varying size
(Table 4.1 and Figure 4.2). The properties are held as Exploitation Mining Concessions.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
24/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 4-2
Table 4.1: Property status PROPERTY MINING ROLE
NUMBERSURFACE(hectares)
REGISTERED OWNER
Litio 1, 1 al 29 03201-6516-4 130 SLM Litio 1 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaLitio 2, 1 al 30 03201-6517-2 143 SLM Litio 2 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaLitio 3, 1 al 58 03201-6518-4 286 SLM Litio 3 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaLitio 4, 1 al 60 03201-6519-4 300 SLM Litio 4 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaLitio 5, 1 al 60 03201-6520-2 297 SLM Litio 5 de la S. Hoyada de MaricungaLitio 6, 1 al 60 03201-6521-0 282 SLM Litio 6 de la S. Hoyada de Maricunga
Total 1.438Source: Li3 Energy Inc.
The property boundaries are recorded as UTM coordinates (PSAD 56 datum) based on
digital GPS measurement. National geodetic survey markers have been used as base
reference points for the GPS measurements.
The claims are legally incorporated and registered, with the claims being published in the
national register effective September 1, 2004. Baker and McKenzie Attorneys at Law in
Santiago, Chile have prepared a legal opinion dated March 13, 2012 regarding the Li3
claims listed in Table 4.1 which states that:
The Mining Projects Agreements have been duly executed and delivered by theparties thereto and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of all parties,enforceable against them in accordance with their terms.
All titles of the Mining Tenements (set out Table 4.1) are in good standing, with all thecorresponding licenses being duly paid, and there are no encumbrances on suchMining Tenements.
The property consists of an area in the northeast of the nucleus of the salar and thus all
of the property can be considered to be mineralized. The property is bordered on the
north and east by a national highway which provides access to Argentina. An electrical
power line runs parallel to the highway. There are no known environmental liabilities
associated with the property.
Li3 acquired a 60% interest in the property effective May 20, 2011 by paying Sociedades
del Litio (the Sellers) $6,375,000 in cash and an aggregate of 127,500,000 shares paid
to the Sellers and their agents. This includes restrictive trading/hedging covenants which
include a 9 month lock on 50% of the shares, with the remaining 50% locked up for 18
months. In addition, the Sellers received the right to the appointment of 3 nominees to
the Board of Directors of Li3.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
25/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 4-3
Figure 4.2: Property location map
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
26/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 4-4
Annual canon payments (concession fees) on the individual minas are due by the end of
February. Li3 reports that all required payments have been made for the current year
(2012) and the next payments are due February, 2013. Cann payments total CHP
1,889,160 per annum.
4.3 Permits
Li3 obtained the necessary permits from the Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria
(Sernageomin) of the III Region in Copiapo on May, 20 2011 to initiate exploration
activities on the Litio 1-6 claims for an indefinite period of time.
4.4 Other properties
Li3 holds 4,900 ha as Exploration Mining Concessions near Copiapo as a potential site
for a lithium brine processing plant as detailed in Table 4.2. No exploration has been
conducted on the property and no further discussion of the property is contained in this
report.
Table 4.2: Other properties PROPERTY SURFACE
(hectares)Verde 1 200
Verde 2 300Verde 3 300Verde 4 300Verde 5 300Verde 6 300Verde 7 200
Amarillo 2 300Amarillo 3 300Amarillo 4 300Amarillo 5 300Amarillo 6 300Amarillo 7 300Amarillo 8 300Amarillo 9 200
Amarillo 10 100Amarillo 11 300Amarillo 12 300
Total 4,900
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
27/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-1
5 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE ANDPHYSIOGRAPHY
5.1 AccessibilityThe Maricunga property is accessed from the city of Copiapo via National Highway 31.
Highway 31 is paved for approximately one-half of the distance and is a well maintained
gravel surface road thereafter. National Highway 31 extends through to Argentina.
Access to Maricunga from the city of El Salvador is via a well maintained gravel surface
highway. Occasional high snowfalls in the mountains may close the highways for brief
periods during the winter.
5.2 Climate
5.2.1 Temperature
The climate at the property is a dry, cold, high altitude desert. The average annual
temperature at Salar de Maricunga is estimated at 5 - 6 0C as shown in Figure 5.1 (DGA
2009).
Long-term historical temperature data are not available for the immediate Projects area.
The DGA maintained Lautaro Embalso meteorological station (1,110 masl) located 160km southwest of the Project area has average monthly temperature records available for
the period of 1966 through to date.
A weather station at the Marte Lobo Project site located in the southern extension of the
Maricunga basin at an elevation of 4,090 masl, (30 km to the south of the Project) has
average monthly temperature records available for the period between January 1997
and December 1998. Table 5.1 shows average monthly temperature data for the Marte
Lobo Project (Golder Associates 2011).
Table 5.1: Average monthly temperature at the Marte Lobo Project ( 0C)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec8.5 6.6 6.5 2.5 -0.5 -5.0 -3.5 -2.5 -0.5 1.0 3.7 5.8(re-elaborated after Golder Associates 2011)
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
28/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-2
Figure 5.1: Isotherm map for Salar de Maricunga
Source: DGA 2009
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
29/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-3
5.2.2 Precipitation
Precipitation in Salar de Maricunga may occur during the months of January and
February as a result of Bolivian winter effects and during the months of June through
September. The intensity of these annual rainfall patterns are significantly influenced by
the El Nino-Southern Oscillation.
The nearest long-term historical precipitation records for the Project are available from
DGA maintained meteorological stations at Las Vegas (70 km northwest) at an elevation
of 2,250 masl and Pastos Grande (60 km WSW) at an elevation of 2,260 masl. No long-
term historical precipitation records are available for the III Region above 2,500 masl
elevation. Table 5.2 provides summary information of the Las Vegas and Pastos Grande
stations.
Table 5.2: DGA meteorological stations with historical precipitation records
Station BNA code Basin Elevation(masl)
Distancefrom Project
Record
Las Vegas 03210001-5 Rio Salado 2,250 70 km NW 1984 to datePastos Grande 03441001-1 Rio Copiapo 2,260 60 km WSW 1966 to date
Source: DGA, 2009
Additional rainfall records are available from selected weather stations that are part of
the Pilot System for the III Region operated by the Catolica University of Chile (PUC) inconjunction with the DGA. Table 5.3 provides summary information for the Maricunga
and Pedernales Sur weather stations.
Table 5.3: Selected PUC-DGA weather stations with partial precipitation records
Station Basin UTM (PSAD 1956) Elevation(masl)
Record
Maricunga Maricunga 7,000,372 mN 486,326 mE 3,852 2007 2008Pedernales Sur Pedernales 7,049,016 mN 493,056 mE 3,774 2007 2008
Source: DGA, 2009
Figures 5.2a and 5.2b show monthly precipitation records for the Marigunca and
Pedernales Sur weather stations for the 2007/8 period. It is believed that these data are
representative of a relative dry year (DGA 2009).
Precipitation records collected at the Marte Lobo Project weather station during the
1997/1998 period show an annual cumulative precipitation (rainfall and snowfall water
equivalent) of 451 mm (Golder Associates 2011). Further analyses of rainfall records of
the III Region indicate that the 1997/8 cumulative precipitation coincides with a 100 year
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
30/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-4
precipitation event. Additional precipitation data collected at the Marte and Lobo stations
between 2009 and 2010 are shown in Figure 5.3.
Average annual precipitation estimates were prepared as part the Balance Hidrico de
Chile (DGA 1987). Figure 5.4 shows an isohyet map for the Salars de Maricunga and
Pedernales. The map suggests that the average annual precipitation in Salar de
Maricunga is 100 - 150 mm.
Figure 5.2a: Precipitation data for the Maricunga weather station (PUC-DGA) for2007/2008
Source: DGA 2009
Figure 5.2b: Precipitation data for the Pedernales Sur weather station (PUC-DGA) for2007/2008
Source: DGA 2009
( )
( ) 00 / 00
( )
( ) 00 / 00
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
31/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-5
Figure 5.3 : Precipitation data from the Marte and Lobo stations for 2009/2010
Source: AMEC 2011
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
32/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-6
Figure 5.4: Isohyet map for Salar de Maricunga
Source: DGA 2009
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
33/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-7
EDRA (1998) carried out a hydrogeological investigation for the Salar de Maricunga and
Piedra Pomez areas and described the following precipitation elevation relationship:
P = 0.038H - 53
Where:
P is average annual precipitation (mm); and H is elevation (masl)
Using this correlation the average annual precipitation for Salar de Maricunga is
estimated at 90 mm.
The DGA (2006) carried out a hydrogeological investigation for Salar de Maricunga in
which the following precipitation elevation relationship was developed:
P = 0.1H - 300
Where:
P is average annual precipitation (mm); and H is elevation (masl)
Using this correlation the average annual precipitation for Salar de Maricunga is
estimated at 75 mm.
Li3 is in the process of installing a weather station in Salar de Maricunga (to be operative
during Q2 2012) so that the results of previous precipitation studies and third party data
sets can be validated.
5.3.3 Solar Radiation
Solar radiation is the most important energy input for evaporation. Long-term solar
radiation data are not available for Salar de Maricunga directly. Regional solar radiation
estimates are shown in Figure 5.5 and suggest that solar radiation in Salar de Maricunga
falls in the range of 1,700 1,900 KWh/m 2 per year.
Partial solar radiation data are available from the Marte Lobo Project site and are
reported in Amec 2011. Table 5.4 shows monthly records solar radiation records in
Watts/m 2 for the Marte and Lobo stations.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
34/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-8
Table 5.4: Monthly solar radiation data (W/m2) for the Marte and Lobo Stations (Amec2011)
Figure 5.5: Solar radiation distribution in Chile
Figure 5.6 shows the average hourly solar radiation intensity at the Marte and Lobo
stations calculated for the 2009/2010 period.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
35/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-9
Figure 5.6: Average hourly solar radiation intensity at the Marte and Lobo stations for
2009/2010
Source: AMEC 2011
Li3 is in the process of installing a weather station in Salar de Maricaunga (to be
operative during Q2 2012) so that local site-specific solar radiation data will become
available.
5.2.3 Evaporation
The DGA (2009) has developed a relationship between elevation and average annual
pan evaporation based on pan evaporation records from some 40 stations across the I,
II, and III Regions of northern Chile as shown in Figure 5.7. Based on this correlation
the annual average pan evaporation rate for Salar de Maricunga is estimated at 2,400
mm.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
36/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-10
Figure 5.7: Elevation versus average annual pan evaporation
Source: DGA 2009
A similar relationship between elevation and average annual pan evaporation has been
described by Houston (2006) as follows:
MAEpan = 4364 (0.59*A)Where: MAE pan is mean annual pan evaporation (mm) and A is elevation (m) for
stations above 1,000 masl.
Using this correlation the mean annual pan evaporation rate for Salar de Maricunga is
estimated at 2,150 mm.
Houston (2006) further describes the effects of brine density on mean annual pan
evaporation rates as:MAEpan = 10026 6993D; where D is fluid density
Applying this to Maricunga brine (D = 1.2 g/ml), the annual average brine pan
evaporation rate is estimated at 1,600 mm.
The DGA (2008) described the monthly distribution of average annual pan evaporation
based on observations made from records (1977-2008) of the Linzor (4,096 masl) and
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
37/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-11
Inacaliri (4,000 masl) stations in the II Region of northern Chile. Figure 5.8 summarizes
this monthly distribution of the annual average pan evaporation (Golder Associates
2011).
Figure 5.8: Monthly distribution of average annual pan evaporation
Source: Golder Associates 2011
The DGA (2009) carried out a detailed field investigation program in Salar de Maricungato establish evaporation rates as a function of soil type and depth to groundwater. Table
5.5 summarizes the findings of this investigation.
Table 5.5: Evaporation rates used for the basin water balance (DGA 2009 and Golder2011)
Type Mean annual evaporation rate (mm)Open water 6.1Humid soil 4.1
Vegas 2.1Salar crust 1.8
Li3 is in the process of installing several Class A evaporation pans (fresh water and
brine) at the Project site (to be operative during Q2 2012) so that the results of previous
evaporation studies can be validated.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
38/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-12
5.3 Local Resources
Local resources are absent at the salar. Copiapo is a major regional mining center and
exploration tools and equipment and heavy mining equipment and machinery are
available.
5.4 Infrastructure
Local infrastructure at the salar include National Highway 31 and an electrical power line
running parallel to the highway. There is a customs post at the north end of the salar that
is staffed on a 24 hour basis.
Copiapo is a major city and provides a full range of services. Copiapo is serviced by
daily scheduled air service with connections to Santiago and other major cities in Chile,
as well as service to Argentina and Bolivia. The port of Caldera is located approximately
80 km west of Copiapo. The port has excellent dock facilities for general cargo, liquid
fuel unloading and bulk cargo. The port of Chaaral is located approximately 250 km
from the salar.
5.5 Physiography
The hydrographic basin of Salar de Maricunga covers 2,195 km 2 in the Altiplano of the III
Region. The average elevation of the basin is 4,295 masl while the maximum and
minimum elevations are 6,749 masl and 3,738 masl respectively. The Salar itself is
located in the northern extent of the hydrographic basin and covers 142.2 km 2 (DGA
2009).
Previous hydrological studies have included the Piedra Pomez basin to east in the
Maricunga watershed. This study does not include the Piedra Pomez basin and follows
the 2009 DGA convention as shown in Figure 5.9.
The principal surface water inflow into the lower part of basin occurs from Rio Lamas
which originates in Macizo de Tres Cruces. Average flow in Rio Lamas (at El Salto) is
measured at 240 l/s. All flow from the Rio Lamas infiltrate into the Llano de Cienaga
Redonda (DGA 2009).
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
39/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-13
The second largest inflow to the lower part of the basin occurs from Quebrada Cienaga
Redonda. Average flow (at La Barrera) is measured at 20 l/s; all flow infiltrates also in to
the Llano de Cienaga Redonda (DGA 2009).
Laguna Santa Rosa is located at the southwest extent of the basin valley floor and is fed
mainly locally by discharge of groundwater. Laguna Santa Rosa drains north via a
narrow natural channel into the Salar itself. Additional groundwater discharge occurs
along the path of this channel and surface water flow has been recorded at 200 300 l/s
(DGA 2009). Tres Cruces National Park is located in the southern part of the Maricunga
watershed and includes Laguna Santa Rosa.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
40/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 5-14
Figure 5.9: Map of the Maricunga hydrographic basin
Source: DGA 2009
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
41/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 6-1
6 HISTORY
6.1 Prior ownership and ownership changes
SLM Litio acquired the Litio 1 6 concessions in 2004. Numerous other claim holders,
including Codelco and SQM, have extensive holdings on the Salar adjacent to and to the
south of the Litio 1-6 claims.
6.2 Prior brine exploration
CORFO, under the aegis of the Comite de Sales Mixtas, (CORFO, 1982) conducted a
major study of the northern Chilean salars in the 1980s with the objective of determiningthe economic potential of the salars for production of potassium, lithium, and boron.
CORFO undertook systematic hydrogeological and geological studies and sampling of
the various salars. Exploration work at Salar de Maricunga included sampling of shallow
pits (50 cm deep). It was determined that the phreatic level of the brine was at 15 cm
below the Salar surface. Estimates of contained mineral resources were developed
based on the assay results and assuming a constant porosity of 10% down to a 30 m
depth. CORFOs estimate of the contained resources at Salar de Maricunga is detailed
in Table 6.1.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
42/174
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
43/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 6-3
Table 6.2: SLM Lithium assay results summary 2007 drilling
Source: SLM Litio
The assay values are comparable to those obtained by CORFO in the 1981 exploration
program at Salar de Maricunga. Based on the assay results, SLM Litio 1-6 estimated
contained resources to a depth of 20 m. The surface area assumed for the resource
estimate was 1,450 ha and the assumed salar porosity was 10%. SLM Litio classified
these resources as indicated resources. The estimated resources are detailed in Table
6.3.
Table 6.3: Historic SLM Lithium resource estimate 1
1) not NI 43-101 compliant and not to be relied upon.Source: SLM Litio
SLM assumed grade continuity to a depth of 100 m and a reduction in porosity from 10%
to 6% for salar depths between 20 m and 100 m. Resources from 20 m to 100 m depthwere classified by SLM Litio as inferred resources. Based on these assumptions, SLM
Litio estimated resources as follows (Table 6.4)
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
44/174
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
45/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 6-5
Geoqumica de Aguas en Cuencas Cerradas: I, II y III Regiones de Chile,
Volumen I, Sntesis. S.I.T N 51, de los autores Risacher, Alonso y Salazar,Convenio de Cooperacin DGA UCN IRD, 1999.
Anlisis de la Situacin Hidrolgica e Hidrogeolgica de la Cuenca del Salar de
Maricunga, III Regin. DGA, Departamento de Estudios y Planificacin
(2006). S.D.T. N 255.
Hidrogeologa Sector Quebrada Piedra Pmez. EDRA, 1999.
Evaluation of the Hydrogeological Interconnection between the Salar de
Maricunga and the Piedra Pomez Basins, Atacama Region, Chile; An Isotope
and Geochemical Approach. Iriarte, Santibez y Aravena, 2001.
Levantamiento Hidrogeologico para el Desarrollo de Nuevas Fuentas de Agua en
Areas Prioritarias de la Zone Norte de Chile, Regiones XV, I, II, y III. Etapa 2
Sistema Piloto III Region Salares de Maricunga y Pedernales. Realizado por
Departamento de Ingeniera Hidraulica y Ambiental Pontifica Universidad Catolicade Chile (PUC). SIT No. 195, Noviembre 2009.
Hidrogeologia Campo de Pozos Piedra Pomez- Compania Minera Casale;
prepared by SRK Consulting; May 2011.
Linea Base Hidrogeologica y Hidrologica Marte Lobo y Modelo Hidrogeologico
Cienaga Redonda Kinross Gold Corporation; prepared by Golder Associates,
June 2011.
Several drilling campaigns were carried out by Compania Mantos de Oro and Chevron
Minera Corporation of Chile between 1988 and 1990 during which a total of 10 wells
were installed around the perimeter of Salar de Maricunga as shown in Figure 6.1.
Figures 6.2 and 6.3 show the available lithological logs for these wells.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
46/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 6-6
Figure 6.1: Location map of wells installed by Compania Mantos de Oro and Chevronduring 1988 and 1990
Source: DGA 2009
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
47/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 6-7
Figure 6.2: Lithological logs of Compania Mantos de Oro wells SP-2, SR-3 and SR-6
Source: DGA 2009
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
48/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 6-8
Figure 6.3: Lithological logs of Compania Mantos de Oro wells SR-1, SR-2, SR-4, SP-4and Chevron well CAN-6
Source: DGA 2009
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
49/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-1
7 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION
7.1 Regional geology
The extensive evaporite deposits of the Altiplano-Puna area of the Central Andes are of
Neogene origin. These deposits have formed over many years (10 4 10 5 yr). Their
formation is closely linked with the morphostructural evolution of the Andean system and
interaction with climatic evolution.
The Altiplano-Puna is the second largest high altitude plateau in the world and is the
focus of numerous brine bodies containing high concentrations of lithium amongst
several other species of economic interest. The Andes of western South America are the
result of subduction processes as the Nazca plate dived beneath the South American
plate, and volcanic zones are associated with the steeply dipping portions of the
subduction zone. The central volcanic zone, located between 14 0S and 28 0S is underlain
by one of the largest magma bodies in existence on earth, known as the Altiplano-Puna
Magma Body (APMB) (de Silva et al, 2006). Whilst the origin of the high lithium
concentrations in the brines of the Altiplano-Puna is not known, their distribution around
the margins of the APMB is suggestive of an ultimate source.
In the central Andes and Altiplano-Puna plateau, salt pans, known locally as salares
form in topographic depressions with no outlets (endorheic basins). Salars occur at all
elevations from 1000 m to more than 4000 m above sea level. They generally represent
the end product of a basin infill process that starts with the erosion of the surrounding
relief, initially depositing colluvial talus and fan gravels, grading upwards into sheet
sands, and playa silts and clays as the basin fills. There are many variants to this model
and the tectonic and sedimentary processes that lead to the formation of such basins
have been widely addressed in the literature both generally (Hardie et al, 1978; Reading,
1996; Warren, 1999; Einsele, 2000), and specifically with regard to the Altiplano-Puna
(Ericksen and Salas, 1989; Alonso et al, 1991; Chong et al, 1999; Bobst et al, 2001;
Risacher et al, 2003; Vinante and Alonso, 2006).
Structure plays a significant part in the compartmentalization of the Andean basins.
North-south aligned thrust faults, grabens and half grabens frequently create
accommodation space, whilst transverse strike-slip faulting may assist with basin
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
50/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-2
closure, offsetting basins against impermeable bedrock (Salfity, 1985; Marrett et al,
1994; Reijs and McClay, 2003). In the Andes, volcanism also plays a significant role,
both in basin infill (e.g. tuffs and ignimbrites), and in basin closure (e.g. volcanoes and
lava flows). The latitude of the central Andes and their position under the subtropical
high pressure belt for at least the last 55 million years (Hartley et al, 2005) has
influenced both the type of sedimentary infill, and its architecture within the basins. Basin
closure is thought to have occurred frequently around 14 Ma (Vandevoort et al, 1995),
although the majority of evaporitic deposits appear to be less than 8 Ma (Alonso et al,
1991).
Recent evidence suggests that the Andes reached their current elevation around 6 Maago (Ghosh et al, 2006), and since that time the climate has been dominated by arid to
semi-arid conditions (Hartley and Chong, 2001) allowing ample opportunity for
evaporation of the influent water. There have also been excursions into wet periods
(Fritz et al, 2004: Placzek et al, 2006; Rech et al, 2010). During the course of the aquifer
formation, influent ground and surface waters have not always had the opportunity to
escape from the basin, often leading to the formation of temporary lakes or wetlands.
Since the influent waters contained dissolved solutes as well as sediment load,
evaporation results in the precipitation of salts, leading to the deposition of a wide range
of evaporite deposits. Depending on the paleohydrological history of the basin, the
deposition of evaporites may have taken place on more than one occasion, generating
repeat sequences. There is a typical precipitation sequence starting with carbonate
(typically calcite) as the first mineral precipitated, through sulphate (typically gypsum), to
chloride (halite). Of course, natural salars rarely conform to this ideal. Asymmetry,
gradational, and changing boundary positions due to climate change, tectonism, and
sediment supply are normal.
The Maricunga basin comprises a large drainage basin approximating 2,200 km2. The
Maricunga basin is located west of the western cordillera, in a topographical intermediate
step, consisting of a closed system that hosts the large Salares Preandinos of Atacama,
Punta Negra and Pedernales, with the Maricunga salar occupying the southernmost
position in the system.
Within the regional framework, the Maricunga basin is limited to the west by mountains
that have been raised by inverse faults (Falla Vegas la Junta, Falla Varillar, Falla
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
51/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-3
Indaqua, amongst others) that expose a basement sequence ranging in age from Upper
Paleozoic to Lower Tertiary. The mountains and volcanoes exhibit a diverse range of
preservation and elevation from 4,463 m (Cerro los Corrolos) to 4,729 m (Cerro La
Coipa) to 6,052 m (Cerro Copiapo). To the southeast, the basin limit coincides with the
Chilean-Argentine frontier, which is defined by a line of modern volcanoes with
elevations ranging from 5,250 m (Cerro de Los Patos) and 6,749 m (Nevada Tres
Cruces).
The volcanic complexes (extinct volcanoes, domes, etc.) exhibit a range of ages
between 26 and 6 Ma. Some of them are associated with the characteristically auriferous
mineralisation of the Maricunga Belt. The eastern limit of the basin is marked by theCordillero Claudio Gay, with a maximum elevation of 5,181 m (Cerro Colorado). This is a
North-South trending mountain chain resting on a basement of Middle to Upper
Paleozoic rocks and exposing deformed volcanoclastic sequences of Upper Oligocene
to Lower Miocene rocks which represent remnants of the volcanic arc preserved on the
margins of the Maricunga Basin (Figure 7.1).
The valley of the Rio Lamas cuts this mountain range and exhibits deformed
syndepositional and interstratified conglomerates and sandstones with ignimbrites,
indicating an age range of 15.9 1.1 to 15.4 0.7 Ma (Tassara, 1997). This fact
indicates a Middle Miocene age for the mountain range and, therefore, for the restoration
of the endorheic conditions of the Maricunga basin.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
52/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-4
Figure 7.1: Regional geology of Maricunga basin
Source: Vila and Sillitoe, 1991 in Gamonal, 2007
Deformed terraces and sub-horizontal gravels, ranging in age from 12 Ma to 4 Ma based
on the observed stratigraphic relations in the environs of the Salar, are deposited on this
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
53/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-5
sequence and they extend towards the west to form the alluvial plain that underlies the
units of the Salar. This is cut, in part by the modern fluvial channels.
7.2 Local geology
The Salar de Maricunga itself is located in the northern sector of the Maricunga basin. It
has an ellipsoidal, shape with the major axis approximately 23 km long oriented NNE-
SSW and the minor axis about 10 km long and covers a total area of approximately 140
km. square. The Salar proper is surrounded on the northwest, north, northeast, east and
south by Quaternary and Miocene-Cenozoic alluvial deposits and on the west and
southwest by volcanic rocks of Upper Miocene age (Figure 7.2).
The asymmetric structure of the Salar is evidence of faulting and tilting of the basin
downward to the northwest, with movement along faults trending north to northeast
during Quaternary time. There is a presumed fault extending northeastward across the
basin of the Salar, as indicated by the pronounced elongation of the southern part of the
Salar and the straight southeastern edge.
The clastic sediments bordering the Salar on the north, northwest and west sides are
composed of fluvial Quaternary sands and gravels of mixed size and composition. They
are generally stratified, with the finer sands being more so. The deposits range in
thickness up to approximately 20 m and exhibit significant transmissivity (10 10 4
m2 /day and total porosities of 10% to 15% (Risacher et al, 1999).
The older Pliocene-Miocene sediments are alluvial in origin. They exhibit widely varying
sizes from approximately 0.5 mm to up to 10 cm in diameter. The primary sources of
origin of these sediments are the discharges from the Rio Lamas and the quebradas
Cienga Redonda, La Coipa, Mantaniales and Caballo Muerto. These sediments exhibit
transmissivities ranging from 15,000 to 43,000 m 2 /d on the southwest side of the Salar,
based on drill hole test results and from 500 to 3,000 m 2 /d on the northwest side of the
Salar, again based on drill hole test results (Risacher et al, 1999).
The alluvial Upper Miocene and Pliocene sediments exhibit poor stratification on a
selective basis. They are composed of sub-rounded to sub-angular heteroconglomerates
from 1 3 cm up to 20 cm in diameter. Depositional trails largely follow the primary
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
54/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-6
drainage channels. They are largely derived from the Upper Miocene lavas and are
primarily distributed on the western flanks of the Cordillero Clauido Gay. The thickness
of these sediments can be up to 900 m.
Figure 7.2: Geomorphology of the Maricunga basin
Source: DGA 2009
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
55/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-7
Transmissivity of the sediments ranges from 4,000 to 27,000 m 2 /day, but can be as low
as 800 m 2 /day, based on results from test wells on the west and northwest side of the
Salar. Total porosity ranges are reported as 5% to 15% (Risacher et al, 1999).
The Salar de Maricunga exhibits two main evapofacies, comprising an asymmetric
zoning, which are (Tassara, 1997):
Chloride facies . This facie is primarily distributed in the North and Northwest
sectors of the Salar and presents three types of main textures: sheets, crust flat
and very pure halite blocks. This facies covers approximately 75% of the surface
of the Salar. This facies presents a well-developed compositional homogeneitybetween the three types of units, with very high contents of Cl and Na, compared
with other cations and anions and relatively low content (as to Cl and Na) of B
and Li. The chloride facies is up to 50 m thick. The estimated net evaporation
rate from the Salar is reported to be 1,100 l/sec.
Boric and Sulphate facies . This facie is distributed in the southeast of the Salar,
and represents the less soluble facies. It sits between 1 and 2 meters above the
level of the brackish lagoons and the chlorides facies. The flat borate facies unitsare less exposed to seasonal influx of water compared to the chlorides facies,
with a much greater dispersion for all elements and a noticeable trend towards
greater quantities of Ca, K, Mg, and SO4, with decreased levels of Cl and Na,
and high concentrations of B and As, while the Li is maintained in the same
proportions as the chlorides of northern salar facies . This facie presents
gypsiferous borates and thenardite with ulexite including mound crust textures.
Both areas are separated by a NE trending fault which controls the phreatic level, withbrackish lagoons facing in the SW-NE direction. This fault belongs to the Eastern
Domeyko fault system, which is an extension of an ancient fault trace structure. The
current unbalanced distribution of the facies in the Salar is probably tectonically
controlled by tilting the basin towards the WNW, following the old NE structures.
The necessary conditions for the generation of evaporite consolidation apparently took
place in the late Miocene (12-11 Ma), being restricted to the age of the substrate of the
salt, and therefore the maximum age of the saline deposits is in the range of 12 Ma to 4
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
56/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-8
Ma. The boric (and sulphate facies) of the Salar were deposited simultaneously with
volcanic activity in the upper Miocene Maricunga Strip. Therefore, they would represent
an earlier depositional cycle unlike the currently produced halite deposits in the
Northwest sector of the Salar where the evaporation process results in the reduction of
relic crusts.
The boric facies deposits are associated with a hydrothermal sequence, probably linked
to the Copiap volcanic complex between 11 Ma and 7 Ma, which is correlated
chronologically with the similar sequence that characterized the deposition of evaporitic
borates in the Puna in Argentina.
7.3 Salar de Maricunga water balance
A modified water balance for Salar de Maricunga has been prepared by the DGA (2009).
Figure 7.3 shows the general surface and groundwater flow patterns in the Salar de
Maricunga watershed. Surface water flow generally only occurs at higher ground and
infiltrates into the more permeable alluvial and fan sediment surrounding the Salar
before reaching the Salar floor itself. The only surface water flow that does occur on the
Salar floor is the natural discharge from Laguna Santa Rosa north towards the center of
the Salar. There is no surface water outflow from the Maricunga watershed.
Groundwater flow patterns follow closely the surface water flow patterns. There are no
known groundwater outflows from the Maricunga watershed. Inflow into the Maricunga
watershed from the Laguna Negro Francisco has been demonstrated and is estimated at
80 l/s. It is speculated that potential groundwater inflow to the Maricunga watershed
may take place from the Piedra Pomez Basin through the Claudio Gay mountain range.
There exists uncertainty about potential groundwater interconnection between the Llano
de Piedra Pomez and the Rio Lamas basin. Both potential groundwater inflowcomponents need further investigation to refine the current water balance of the Salar de
Maricunga hydrographic basin.
The majority of recharge to the Maricunga basin occurs through the direct infiltration of
precipitation. The total average annual recharge to the Maricunga basin (including the
inflow from Laguna del Negro Francisco) is estimated at 1,450 l/s or 45.7 million cubic
meters.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
57/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-9
Discharge from the Maricunga basin is through evaporation, evapotranspiration and
groundwater pumping. Evaporation rates for the various soil types have been described
previously in Section 5.2. The total average annual discharge through evaporation has
been estimated at 1,098 l/s or 34.6 million cubic meters.
According to DGA records, existing granted water rights in the Salar de Maricunga basin
amount to 548 l/s. Table 7.1 summarizes the water balance for the Salar de Maricunga
watershed.
Table 7.1: Water balance for the Salar de Maricunga basin
Inflows Average flow (l/s)
Recharge from precipitation 1,370Inflow from Laguna del Negro Francisco 80Other groundwater inflow NATotal inflows 1,450
OutflowsEvaporation 1,098Licensed abstraction 548Total outflows 1,646Balance (Inflows Outflows) -196Difference -13.5%Source: DGA 2009
Golder (2010) has prepared a modified water balance for the Salar de Maricunga basin
as part of the Marte Lobo EIA. This modified water balance is currently under review by
the Chilean authorities and, if approved, would supersede the DGA 2009 water balance
summarized in Table 7.1.
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
58/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-10
Figure 7.3: General surface and groundwater flow patterns in the Salar de Maricungabasin
Source: DGA 2009
-
8/12/2019 Li3!43!101ReportMaricunga2012 Final
59/174
Li3 Energy - Salar de Maricunga Project Page 7-11
7.4 Mineralization
The brines from Maricunga are solutions saturated in sodium chloride with totaldissolved solids (TDS) of 26% (316 g/L) as an average, although in most areas exceed
27%. The average density is 1.200 g/cm 3. The other components present in these
brines, which constitute an aqueous complex system and exist also in other natural
brines in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are the following: K, Li, Mg, CA,