CALGARY, ALBERTA – TheNewswire - December 5, 2022 – Lithium Chile Inc. (“Lithium Chile”) (TSX:LITH), (OTC:LTMCF) is pleased to announce the results of an updated resource report at the Salar de Arizaro.  The update resulted in a significant increase to Lithium Chile’s lithium carbonate equivalent resource.  The increase is a result of the success of its second production well. That second well, drilled 3.6 kilometers away from the initial production test well, encountered significantly increased thickness in the brine reservoir between 343 meters and 598 meters of depth.

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Total  Indicated and Inferred resource from second well of 1,167,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. 

• Total Indicated resource from the first two wells is 1,337,000 metric tonnes and Inferred resource is 1,250,000 metric tonnes for a total of 2,587,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent an 81% increase over the first well.  

• The third production test well is expected to start drilling within a week.  

  

The updated resource estimate was prepared by Montgomery and Associates, an independent engineering firm that has supervised the drilling program such that all parameters necessary to meet the requirements of NI 43-101 are fulfilled.

 

CONTINUED DRILLING

Lithium Chile is proceeding with a production test well program that involves a total of 4 production test wells.  Drilling of the third production test well slated to begin within the next week.  It is noteworthy that Lithium Chile has designed the drilling program to include four production test wells in total.  While each individual test well has a radius of investigation for resource estimate calculations, it is intended that upon completion of the fourth production test well, if successful, the area between the wells will thereafter be included in resource estimate calculations - all in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101.

Steve Cochrane, President, and CEO commented, “This is a significant resource increase as a result of just one additional well - almost doubling the size of the initial resource.  This success gives us great confidence in the areal extend of the Salar de Arizaro – one of the largest in Argentina.  What is important to note is that should our next two test wells be successful in establishing a continuation of the brine reservoir, the resources attributable to Lithium Chile may be even more significantly increased as a result of filling in the area between the test wells.  We look forward to reporting the results of the third production well in the near future - and those of the fourth test well thereafter”.

 

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Figure 1 – Area of Resource Estimates, Salar de Arizaro, Argentina

 

RESOURCE CATEGORY	BRINE VOLUME (m3)	AVG. Li (mg/l)	IN SITU Li (tonnes)	Li2CO3​ EQUIVALENT​ (tonnes)
INDICATED	8.83E+08	284	251,000	1,337,000
INFERRED	7.59E+08	310	235,000	1,250,000

 

Figure 2 – Summary of Indicated and Inferred Resource, Salar de Arizaro, Argentina

 

WATER WELL:

Lithium Chile is also pleased to announce the completion of a successful fresh water well on the southern flank of the Salar de Arizaro. In June 2022, Lithium Chile identified a potential freshwater aquifer and drilled the target during July and August.  A 100-meter-thick freshwater aquifer was encountered and during September, the well was completed, and equipment was installed to determine the productivity of the well.  Based on data collected over September and October, a water usage application was submitted to the Salta Environmental Ministry for a permit allowing Lithium Chile to use up to 75 cubic meters of fresh water per hour. This production rate is more then sufficient to support Lithium Chile’s plans for a 15,000 tonne a year production facility - using either DLE or evaporation production methods.

 

AWARD:

Lithium Chile is honoured to announce it was awarded “Lithium Company of the Year” at the 2022, Mines and Money, International Event in London.

Michelle DeCecco, Vice President & CCO comments, “This award belongs to the entire Lithium Chile team. 2022 has been a transformational year for the Company; that has been a result of the dedication and talents shown by our incredible group across the globe. Being recognized as “Lithium Company of the Year” is foretelling to the exciting plans, and goals we have for 2023”.

 

QUALIFIED PERSON, QA/QC STATEMENTS:

Michael Rosko, MS, PG, of Montgomery and Associates (M&A) of Santiago, Chile, is a registered geologist (CPG) in Arizona, California and Texas, a registered member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME No. 4064687), and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Rosko has extensive experience in salar environments and has been a qualified person on many lithium brine projects. Mr. Rosko and M&A are completely independent of Lithium Chile.  Mr. Rosko has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release.

 

ABOUT LITHIUM CHILE:

Lithium Chile is advancing a lithium property portfolio consisting of 84,478 hectares covering sections of 11 salars and 2 laguna complexes in Chile and 23,300 hectares in Argentina.

The Company has a NI 43-101 report with an indicated and inferred resource of 2,587,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) from its Salar de Arizaro, Argentina. The Phase 2 development program on the Salar de Arizaro is currently underway with its results to be included in an updated NI 43-101 report which is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2023.

Lithium Chile also owns 5 properties, totaling 21,329 hectares that are prospective for gold, silver and copper. Exploration efforts are continuing on Lithium Chile’s Carmona gold/silver/copper property which lies in the heart of the Chilean mega porphyry gold/ silver/copper belt.  

Lithium Chile’s common shares are listed on the TSX-V under the symbol “LITH” and on the OTC-BB under the symbol “LTMCF”.

To find out more about Lithium Chile Inc., please contact Steven Cochrane, President and CEO via email: steve@lithiumchile.ca or Michelle DeCecco, Vice President and COO, via email michelle@lithiumchile.ca or at 403-390-9095.

 

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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expected", "anticipated", "aims to", "plans to" or "intends to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions and factors that may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, factors and assumptions with respect to: the general stability of the economic and political environment in which the Company operates; the timely receipt of required regulatory approvals; the ability of the Company to obtain future financing on acceptable terms; currency, exchange and interest rates; operating costs; the success the Company will have in exploring its prospects and the results from such prospects and the COVID-19 pandemic.  You are cautioned that the foregoing list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Although the Lithium Chile believes that the assumptions and factors on which such forward-looking statements are based upon are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Lithium Chile can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct or that any of the events anticipated by such forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Lithium Chile  will derive there from. Lithium Chile does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.