Lake Resources NL (LKE) has defined a maiden Ore Reserve for its flagship Kachi Lithium Brine Project, located in the Catamarca Province, in Argentina. This provides a solid foundation to move the Project to the next stage of development and highlights the potential for further resources to be identified.
The Ore Reserve stands at 1.03 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) of contained mineralization. This is at a cut-off of 200 milligrams per litre lithium (Li) based on the brine resource estimate released in 2018. 86% of the Ore Reserve is in the Measured and Indicated categories with a recovery rate of 83%. The Ore Reserve demonstrates the confidence that LKE have in the Kachi Project’s mineral potential and highlights the value of the project.
The Ore Reserve is comprised of a high-grade, brine-hosted (mineralization) system underlying an existing evaporite basin. The final pit design incorporates the detailed 3D geological model and extensive brine sampling program to ensure accuracy. The Resource is estimated using a modified polygonal method, which is in line with internationally accepted standards and best practices.
Kachi is well-positioned to supply the lithium demand growth within the rapidly expanding electric vehicle and energy storage industries. The Lake Resources NL team have done an excellent job defining the Ore Reserve for Kachi amidst strong resource demand. This is a significant milestone for the project and it could feasibly lead to a further expansion of resources. It is also a testament to LKE’s exploration and development capabilities.