About the Arizaro Project
NOA controls a 100% interest in approximately 44,000 hectares of claims located at the Arizaro Salar in Salta Province, Argentina. It is approximately 70 km from the Company’s Rio Grande Project and 185 km from its Salinas Grandes Project.
The salar is known to host lithium-bearing brines with production potential. Multi-billion dollar companies are actively exploring on the salar, including: Pluspetrol Resources Corporation, Lilac Solutions, Eramet Group, and Tibet Summit Resources. Mid-tier companies on the salar include the Hanaq Group and Lithium Chile Inc. (“Lithium Chile”). Lithium Chile drilled two wells in 2022 and announced an inferred resource of 2.6Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (“LCE”) with average grade of 300 mg/l lithium at the Arizaro salar. NOA’s claims are located adjacent to Lithium Chile’s claims and geophysical interpretation suggests the same brine aquifer intercepted by Lithium Chile may continue on NOA ground.
NOA’s specific project claims have seen no significant historic exploration, and thus represent a new opportunity to identify lithium-bearing brines.
Location & Infrastructure
Located at approximately 3,500 metres above sea level, the geological environment at the Arizaro Salar is similar to other salars in the Puna region where lithium and potash are found.
The Arizaro Project is situated close to international railway, and just 25 km away from the Provincial Route 27, which connects this project with the Rio Grande Project. It is also 110 km south of Provincial Route 51, the international road that connects to Chile’s coastal ports. It is approximately 150 km from the town of San Antonio de los Cobres. The InterAndes power corridor runs within a few km of the salar.
NOA is one of the largest claimholders on the salar by hectares. Most of NOA’s claims are located at the central-east and south-east parts of the salar and extending outward into the alluvial fans of the salar.
Exploration Program
Within the core of the surface salar, surface sampling and drilling has been carried out by various operators. Typical lithium values intercepted are in the 250-500 mg/l range and average Mg:Li ratios range from 10-20. Lithium Chile, at a claim adjacent to NOA’s claims, drilled down to below 500 m within a brine aquifer. Geophysical studies indicate the indicate the basement of the salar basin is below 600 m. Lithium Chile’s geophysical results also indicate high potential for brines to depths in excess of 500 m in the salar and extending to the alluvial fans of the salar, under cover.
NOA plans to carry out geophysical testing in 2023 to detect brine concentrations. The plan is to then drill the claims to delineate brine aquifers. For details of the latest work program and results please refer to the News Releases and Presentations.