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Millennial Lithium Corp
Symbol ML
Shares Issued 63,680,840
Close 2017-11-24 C$ 3.14
Market Cap C$ 199,957,838
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Millennial Lithium releases NI 43-101 Pastos estimate

2017-11-27 07:03 ET - News Release

Mr. Farhad Abasov reports

MILLENNIAL LITHIUM ANNOUNCES MAIDEN MEASURED AND INDICATED RESOURCE OF 2,131,000 TONNES LCE AT PASTOS GRANDES

Millennial Lithium Corp. has released a maiden lithium (Li) and potassium (K) resource statement for its Pastos Grandes brine project in the Salta province of Argentina. The National Instrument 43-101 resource statement, detailed in the associated table, includes 2,131,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) equivalent (LCE) and 8,141,000 tonnes of potash (KCl) equivalent in the measured and indicated resource categories, with an additional 878,000 tonnes of Li2CO3 and 3,263,000 tonnes KCl in the inferred resource category.

Farhad Abasov, the president and chief executive officer of Millennial Lithium, commented on the maiden resource for the Pastos Grandes project: "We are very excited to see a robust 43-101 resource estimate from our hydrogeological consultants. The company has now a strong defined resource estimate in place that will allow us to proceed with our planned preliminary economic assessment. With the new REMSA mining concessions and recent strategic funding, we will confidently continue to advance Pastos Grandes to the next level."

                         PASTOS GRANDES BRINE RESOURCE STATEMENT PHASE 2 RESOURCE

Category     Brine volume   Avg. Li  In situ Li  Li2CO3 equivalent   Avg. K   In situ K KCl equivalent
                     (m3)    (mg/l)   (tonnes)*          (tonnes*)   (mg/l)   (tonnes)*      (tonnes)*

Measured       5.2 by 108       465     240,000          1,277,000    5,009   2,582,000      4,924,000
Indicated      3.8 by 108       418     160,000            854,000    4,395   1,687,000      3,216,000
M+I            9.0 by 108       445     400,000          2,131,000    4,747   4,269,000      8,140,000
Inferred       3.5 by 108       469     165,000            878,000    4,871   1,711,000      3,263,000
 
* Tonnages are rounded to the nearest thousand. The reader is cautioned that mineral resources are 
not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.  

The resource estimate was prepared in accordance with the guidelines of National Instrument 43-101 and uses best practice methods specific to brine resources, including a reliance on core drilling and sampling methods that yield depth-specific chemistry and effective (drainable) porosity measurements. The resource estimation was completed by independent qualified person Michael Rosko, MSc, CPG, of the international hydrogeology firm E.L. Montgomery & Associates.

The resource is defined over a 22.1-square-kilometre footprint using results from core drilling and depth-specific packer sampling. In addition the brine was also sampled during short-term pumping tests and from naturally flowing wells. The new measured, indicated and inferred resource was derived from seven polygons surrounding deep holes, totalling 4,010 metres of core drilling. This does not include shallower core holes and wells drilled inside of the polygons. The average spacing between core holes is less than two km. Geophysical surveys were used to assist with location and anticipated depths for the core holes, but also to identify potential fresh water and to extend the inferred resource, to be drilled and included in future resource estimates. Over most of the basin, the brine resource occurs to within one metre of surface and its thickness is defined by the extent of drilling. Maximum depth drilled was 601 metres near the centre of the mining concessions and bottomed in a sandy aquifer; the deepest brine sample was obtained at a depth of 593 metres and had an Li concentration of 539 milligrams per litre.

The chemistry of the Pastos Grandes brine is judged to be very favourable. Brine density and the ratios of magnesium and sulfate to lithium are given below:

  • Density of the brine ranges between 1.20 and 1.22 grams per cubic metre;
  • Average magnesium/lithium ratio: 6.3;
  • Average sulphate/lithium ratio: 18.2.

Based on the geologic model, approximately 89 per cent of the brine volume in this resource is hosted by predominantly silty and sandy units and 7 per cent by mixed halite. The balance is hosted in gravel- or clay-dominated units.

The total contained lithium and potassium values are based on measurements of effective (drainable) porosity distributed throughout the aquifer volume that defines this resource. This method of porosity determination is designed to estimate the portion of the total porosity that can theoretically be drained by pumping; however, these in situ estimates may differ from total extractable quantities. The porosity of the resource volume varies with geology but to date effective porosity has been predictable within distinct hydrostratigraphic units; the average for the entire saturated aquifer considered in the resource is approximately 9.5 per cent.

Portions of the resource located in the clastic sediments at the margins of the salar have been demonstrated to have fresh and brackish water overlying brine. In these areas, fresh water inflow from the surface mixes with salt water in the basin; the resulting lower density fresh water and brackish fluid float on top of the more dense brine before entering the salar margins.

Resource estimation methodologies

A total of 4,010 metres of drilling from seven holes were evaluated for this resource estimate calculation; other core holes and wells were drilled but were shallower. A total 78 drainable porosity results and 163 depth-specific brine sample analyses were used in the computations, not including quality assurance/quality control samples or composite samples obtained during pumping tests. The average spacing of vertical samples for both drainable porosity and chemistry was variable with an average of approximately 50 metres for drainable porosity samples and 25 metres for depth-specific brine samples. Of the seven holes used for the resource analysis, all were terminated due to drill limitations; hydrogeologic basement was not encountered. The total thickness of the basin, and the total thickness of saturated sediments, is unknown. Based on drilling and geophysical measurements, additional brine-bearing aquifer material is believed to exist below 600 metres in most of the concession area.

The consultants chose to estimate the resource using a drill-hole-centred polygonal technique. Hydrostratigraphic units have variable thickness and were determined by the consultants based on observed lithology and anticipated similar hydraulic properties. The values for drainable porosity and grade (lithium and potassium values) for each hydrostratigraphic unit were derived from direct measured values from the well. The unit thicknesses combined with the areas yield a volume. The volumes combined with the drainable porosity values, representing the amount of fluid available from the formation yield the tonnage of brine. Applying the grade, represented as lithium carbonate and potassium chloride equivalents then provides the estimated resource for each block, which are then summed.

The primary analytical laboratories for the data used in this resource are NORLAB in Jujuy, Argentina, and SGS Laboratory in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Both laboratories are accredited to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO14001:2004 for their geochemical and environmental labs for the preparation and analysis of numerous sample types, including brines.

The porosity determinations were made by Core Laboratories of Houston, Tex., and Geosystems Analysis (GSA) of Tucson, Ariz. Core Laboratories is a leading provider of proprietary and patented reservoir description, production enhancement and reservoir management services. Core Laboratories has demonstrated that its quality management system is in compliance with certification to ISO 9000:2008. The scope of this registration is: providing state-of-the-art petrophysical and geological analysis and interpretation of core samples from rock. GSA has gained abundant experience since 1994 in methods used by Core Laboratories and has provided services to various other lithium projects located in Argentina and globally.

Qualified person

The resource evaluation work was completed by Mr. Rosko of Montgomery and Associates Consultores Ltda. Mr. Rosko is a registered geologist (CPG) in Arizona, California and Texas, a registered member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, and is a qualified person (QP) as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Rosko and hydrogeologists from M&A have been on-site multiple times during the various phases of drilling and sampling operations; Mr. Rosko has extensive experience in salar environments and has been a QP on many lithium brine projects. Mr. Rosko and M&A are completely independent of Millennial Lithium. Mr. Rosko has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.

Program design and exploration support was provided by Iain Scarr (BSc, Geology, MBA, CPG) of Millennial Lithium. Mr. Scarr is a certified professional geologist (CPG) with the American Association of Professional Geologists (AIPG) and a QP as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Scarr has spent significant time on-site at Pastos Grandes during all drilling and sampling operations and has extensive experience with lithium projects at other lithium-bearing salars.

A technical report prepared under the guidelines of NI 43-101 standards describing the resource estimation will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this release.

We seek Safe Harbor.

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