Overview
Stage | Preliminary Economic Assessment |
Mine Type | In-Situ |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Mine Life | 30 years (as of Jan 1, 2023) |
Laguna Verde Project affords significant potential development and operational advantages and has direct access to existing infrastructure and renewable power.
Supports the potential for Laguna Verde to become a major supplier of battery grade lithium to European and US markets based on sustainable direct lithium extraction (“DLE”) technology.
Pre-Feasibility Study (“PFS”) is underway, and results are expected in Q1 2024. |
Source:
p. 4
CleanTech Lithium, via its 100% owned subsidiary Atacama Salt Lakes SpA, owns either directly or via an exclusive purchase option a total of 52 exploitation and exploration concessions in the Laguna Verde Project.
Contractors
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Summary:
Laguna Verde is a hyper saline lagoon that is classified as an immature clastic salar. The deposit is composed of a Surface Brine Resource, formed by the brine water volume of the surface lagoon and the Sub-Surface Resource, formed by brine water hosted in volcano-clastic sediments that lies beneath the lagoon.
The project is within a closed hydrographic basin of approximately 1,075 km2 , surrounded by a series of volcanoes, and features an active geothermal system with surface manifestations.
The lagoon is a free water body and no mineralized structures are expected in the sub surface deposits.
Dimensions
For the Surface Brine Resouce the lagoon dimensions are 14,682,408 m2 of area with depths ranging from 0 m to 7.18m with an average depth of 4.05 m.
The Sub-Surface Brine Resource is a horizontal lens closely restricted to the lagoon perimeter with an area of approximately 55 km2 and depths for more than 400 m, from approximately 4,309 m a.s.l. to the basement level.
Summary:
Mining will be undertaken by pumping brine from 23 extraction wells around the Laguna Verde perimeter. The brine will be transferred to the DLE adsorption plant and the spent brine depleted in lithium will be re-injected into the salar basin through 16 deep wells in two areas where the mineral resource will not be affected by dilution
Lithium enriched brine occurring within the porous sub-surface sediments is to be extracted utilising a well field located around the Laguna Verde perimeter. A total of twenty-three extractions wells have been considered in the study. The extracted brine will be transferred to a tank to be mixed prior to being fed into the first stage of plant processing, which is the DLE adsorption columns. The spent brine from the adsorption process, which is the brine with lithium removed, will be reinjected into the salar basin through deep wells, in areas where the mineral resource will not be affected by dilution. Further hydrogeological work is required to develop the extraction and reinjection model for the production phase of the project.
Twenty-three brine extraction wells have been assumed at an average depth of 350 metres with each well estimated at an average flow rate of 30 L/s.
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Source:
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Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | Avg. Annual |
Lithium
|
t
| 20,000 |
All production numbers are expressed as carbonate.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Annual processing capacity
| ...... |
Annual brine extraction
| ...... |
* According to 2023 study.
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Reserves at July 17, 2023:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Measured
|
432,344,899 m3
|
Lithium
|
199 mg/L
|
86,158 t
|
Measured
|
432,344,899 m3
|
LCE
|
|
458,617 t
|
Indicated
|
637,481,322 m3
|
Lithium
|
194 mg/L
|
123,639 t
|
Indicated
|
637,481,322 m3
|
LCE
|
|
658,130 t
|
Measured & Indicated
|
1,069,826,221 m3
|
Lithium
|
196 mg/L
|
209,797 t
|
Measured & Indicated
|
1,069,826,221 m3
|
LCE
|
|
1,116,747 t
|
Inferred
|
590,621,990 m3
|
Lithium
|
208 mg/L
|
122,567 t
|
Inferred
|
590,621,990 m3
|
LCE
|
|
652,426 t
|
Total Resource
|
1,660,448,212 m3
|
Lithium
|
200 mg/L
|
332,364 t
|
Total Resource
|
1,660,448,212 m3
|
LCE
|
|
1,769,173 t
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | Average |
Cash costs
|
LCE
|
USD
|
......
|
Assumed price
|
LCE
|
USD
|
......
|
* According to 2023 study / presentation.
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2023 Study Costs and Valuation Metrics :
Metrics | Units | LOM Total |
Initial CapEx
|
$M USD
|
......
|
Net revenue (LOM)
|
$M USD
|
......
|
After-tax Cash Flow (LOM)
|
$M USD
|
......
|
After-tax NPV @ 10%
|
$M USD
|
......
|
After-tax NPV @ 8%
|
$M USD
|
......
|
After-tax IRR, %
|
|
......
|
After-tax payback period, years
|
|
......
|
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