Overview
Stage | Construction |
Mine Type | In-Situ |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Mine Life | 40 years (as of Jan 1, 2020) |
Commissioning of the lime plant started in early October 2021 to support production ramp up. Stage 1 operation of planned 40,000 tpa lithium carbonate targeting first production by mid-2022. |
Source:
p. 6
Cauchari-Olaroz is a lithium brine project and is owned by a legal entity in Argentina, Minera Exar S.A. (“Minera Exar”). Minera Exar is owned by the Lithium Americas Corp. (44.8%), Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. (“Ganfeng”) (46.7%) and Jujuy Energia y Mineria Sociedad del Estado (“JEMSE”), a mining investment company owned by the government of Jujuy Province in Argentina (8.5%).
Contractors
- Subscription is required.
Summary:
The Cauchari and Olaroz Salars are classified as “Silver Peak, Nevada” type terrigenous salars. Silver Peak, Nevada in the USA was the first lithium-bearing brine deposit in the world to be exploited. These deposits are characterized by restricted basins within deep structural depressions in-filled with sediments differentiated as inter-bedded units of clays, salt (halite), sands and gravels. In the Cauchari and Olaroz Salars, a lithium-bearing aquifer has developed during arid climatic periods. On the surface, the salars are presently covered by carbonate, borax, sulphate, clay, and sodium chloride facies.
Cauchari and Olaroz have relatively high sulphate contents and therefore both salars can be further classified as “sulphate type brine deposits”.
The brines from Cauchari are saturated in sodium chloride with total dissolved solids (TDS) on the order of 27% (324 to 335 g/L) and an average density of about 1.215 g/cm3. The other primary components of these brines are common to brines in other salars in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, and include: potassium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, sulphate, HCO3, and boron as borates and free H3BO3.
Summary:
A total of 56 wells were used to simulate brine extraction for the Updated Mineral Reserve Estimate. The wells comprising the brine extraction wellfield are spatially distributed in the Resource Evaluation Area of the Project to optimize well performance and capture of brine enriched in lithium. Production was initiated in Year 1 of the pumping schedule representing 23 Phase 1 wells. In Years 2 through 40, 33 wells are added to the pumping schedule for duration of the life of mine plan. During the Phase 2 pumping period, the average nominal pumping rate per well is 16 L/s capacity, providing approximately 903 L/s of lithium enriched brine from the aquifer to the evaporation ponds.
Due to uncertainties in the spatial distribution of aquifer hydraulic properties and ultimate well hydraulic efficiencies at constructed production wells, difference may exist between pumping rates applied in the simulation versus measured pumping after construction of wells. Therefore, estimates of capital and operating costs should include a contingency allowance of additional wells to ensure that production targets can be achieved. In addition, it is likely that wells will need to be rehabilitated or replaced during the 40-ear production period and cost estimates should include provisions to cover such expenditures.
Flow Sheet:
Flow Sheet:
Summary:

- subscription is required.
Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | Avg. Annual | LOM |
Lithium
|
t
| 40,000 | 1,576,279 |
All production numbers are expressed as carbonate.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Annual production capacity
| ......  |
* According to 2020 study.
- Subscription is required.
Reserves at May 7, 2019:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven
|
156,875,201 cu. m
|
Lithium
|
616 mg/L
|
96,650 t
|
Proven
|
156,875,201 cu. m
|
LCE
|
|
514,450 t
|
Probable
|
967,767,934 cu. m
|
Lithium
|
606 mg/L
|
586,270 t
|
Probable
|
967,767,934 cu. m
|
LCE
|
|
3,120,590 t
|
Proven & Probable
|
1,124,643,135 cu. m
|
Lithium
|
607 mg/L
|
682,920 t
|
Proven & Probable
|
1,124,643,135 cu. m
|
LCE
|
|
3,635,040 t
|
Measured
|
1,130,000 cu. m
|
Lithium
|
591 mg/L
|
667,800 t
|
Measured
|
1,130,000 cu. m
|
LCE
|
|
3,554,700 t
|
Indicated
|
5,170,000,000 cu. m
|
Lithium
|
592 mg/L
|
3,061,900 t
|
Indicated
|
5,170,000,000 cu. m
|
LCE
|
|
16,298,000 t
|
Measured & Indicated
|
6,300,000,000 cu. m
|
Lithium
|
592 mg/L
|
3,729,700 t
|
Measured & Indicated
|
6,300,000,000 cu. m
|
LCE
|
|
19,852,700 t
|
Inferred
|
1,500,000,000 cu. m
|
Lithium
|
592 mg/L
|
887,300 t
|
Inferred
|
1,500,000,000 cu. m
|
LCE
|
|
4,722,700 t
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
- Subscription is required.
- Subscription is required.