Mining Intelligence and News
Argentina

Hombre Muerto West (HMW) Project

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeIn-Situ
StageConstruction
Commodities
  • Lithium
  • Potassium
Mining Method
  • Brine mining
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotOn August 21, 2023, Galan Lithium Limited announced that full Phase 1 pond construction has commenced for 5.4ktpa LCE production at the Hombre Muerto West (HMW) lithium brine project in Catamarca Province, Argentina. This construction milestone aims to deliver lithium chloride production in H1 2025.

The Phase 2 DFS targets 21Ktpa LCE of a lithium chloride concentrate in 2026, followed by Phase 3 production of 40Ktpa LCE by 2028 and finally a Phase 4 production target of 60Ktpa LCE by 2030. Phase 4 will include lithium brine sourced from both HMW and Galan’s other 100% owned project in Argentina, Candelas.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Galan Lithium Ltd. 100 % Indirect

Deposit type

  • Brine
  • Evaporite
  • Sediment-hosted

Summary:

The salar hosts a world-renowned lithium brine deposit. The lithium is sourced locally from weathered and altered felsic ignimbrites and is concentrated in brines hosted within basin fill alluvial sediments and evaporites.

The extents of the resource are approximately 2.75 km (easting) by 7.750 km (northing) by 1.2 m (vertical), giving a total volume of interest of ~25.5 km3.

Downhole geophysics and depthspecific data (i.e. specific yield and brine chemistry) were used to estimate the resource. Priority was given to 72 hour airlift samples.

Grades are relatively uniform with depth and lateral extent.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityProductUnitsAvg. AnnualLOM
LCE Crystals kt 800
Lithium Carbonate t 20,000

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
Cash costs Li2CO3 USD  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Li2CO3 USD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2020 study / presentation.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Sustaining CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax payback period, years  ......  Subscribe

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNamePhoneEmailProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ........... Subscription required ........... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 6, 2024

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