About the Salinas Grandes Project
NOA controls a 100% interest in approximately 9,200 hectares of claims located at the Salinas Grandes (“Salinas”) Salar in Salta Province, Argentina. It is approximately 250 km from the Company’s Rio Grande Project and 185 km from its Arizaro Project.
The salar is known to host lithium-bearing brines with production potential. The major claimholder on the salar is Pluspetrol Resources Corporation (“Pluspetrol”), a multi-billion dollar private company, which acquired these claims through its acquisition of LSC Lithium Corp. in 2019. A majority of NOA’s claims are adjacent to Pluspetrol’s claims.
NOA’s project claims have seen no significant historic exploration, and thus represent a new opportunity to identify lithium-bearing brines.
Location & Infrastructure
Located at approximately 3,400 metres above sea level, the geological environment at the Salinas Salar is similar to other salars in the Puna region where lithium and potash are found.
The Salinas Grandes Project is situated close to the railway, and just 50 km south of Provincial Route 51, the international road that connects to Chile’s coastal ports. It is a few km away from the international railway station and approximately 50 km from the town of San Antonio de los Cobres. The InterAndes power corridor also runs within a few km of the salar.
NOA’s claims are located in the alluvial fans of the salar, to the north and south of the surface salar.
Exploration Program
Surface sampling has been carried out by various operators on the surface salar, mainly by LSC Lithium Corp (now Pluspetrol). Typical lithium values returned are in the 300-700 mg/l range and average Mg:Li ratios range from 2-5.
NOA carried out initial geophysical testing in 2022 on its claims which indicated brine potential at their claims starting at 100-200 m below surface and extending to ~500 m + below the surface.
NOA plans to carry out geophysical testing in 2023 to detect brine concentrations. The plan is to then drill the claims to delineate brine aquifer(s). For details of the latest work program and results please refer to the News Releases and Presentations.