April 26, 2017 – Vancouver, British Columbia; – LiCo Energy Metals Inc. (“the Company“ or “LiCo”) TSX-V: LIC, OTCQB: WCTXF is pleased to announce that Geodatos Geophysics of Santiago, Chile has now been contracted to conduct a detailed Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) geophysical survey as part of the Phase One lithium brine exploration program for the Purickuta Project located within the Salar de Atacama, Chile.
In this environment, a TEM survey can provide detailed information on the depth from surface and possible thickness of brine bearing aquifers. The best electrical conductance responses can therefore be used to target the best drilling locations. Drilling to depths of up to 350m will commence shortly thereafter or as soon as the requisite exploration permits have been issued. This will be followed by an engineering and hydrological study that includes 72hr flow testing, porosity measurements and calculation of aquifer potential. Project management has reached out to several drilling contractors for quotes and a supplier will be selected in the coming days.
The Company’s management team has returned from a recent trip to Chile in order to advance the proposed Purickuta exploration program and to review additional lithium and cobalt mineral properties for potential acquisition.
“Salar de Atacama is famous for its lithium production and we look forward to seeing the results of our first test of the subsurface at the Purickuta Project. Our neighbors SQM and Albemarle are producing approximately 38% of the worlds lithium supply just 22 km south of our location within the salar. Several direct extraction technologies that don’t involve using evaporation ponds are now being developed and would be an ideal fit for the Purickuta Project.” commented Mr. Dwayne Melrose, Director and Head of the Technical Advisory Board of LiCo.
The Company holds an option to acquire up to a 60% interest in the Purickuta Exploitation concession (the “Property”). The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Alan Morris CPG and Qualified Person.
About LiCo Energy Metals: https://licoenergymetals.com/
LiCo Energy Metals Inc. is a well funded Canadian based exploration company who’s primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company’s focus is directed towards exploration for high value metals integral to the manufacture of lithium ion batteries.
Chile Purickuta Lithium Project:
The Purickuta Project is located within Salar de Atacama, a salt flat encompassing 3,000 km2, being about 100 km long, 80 km wide and home to approximately 37% of the worlds Lithium production. The salar possesses a very high grade of both Lithium (1,840mg/l) and Potassium (22,630mg/l and is close to power, labour, communications, transportation and other infrastructure. The property of 160 hectares is enveloped by a concession owned by Sociedad Quimica y Minera (“SQM”) and lies, significantly, within a few kilometers of the property of CORFO (the Chilean Economic Development Agency) where its leases to both SQM and Albermarle’s Rockwood Lithium Corp Together these two companies have combined production of over 62,000 tonnes of LCE (Lithium Carbonate Equivalent) annually making up 100% of Chile’s current lithium output. The unique characteristics of Salar de Atacama make finished lithium carbonate easier and cheaper to produce than any of its peer group globally.
Purickuta is a smaller exploitation concession rather than a large exploration concession thereby accelerating the task of taking the project to a potential production scenario. Currently, the Chilean government retains ownership of lithium separate from other minerals and thus production can only proceed upon receipt of a special lithium operation contract know as a “CEOL”. In the future, it will be necessary for LiCo and partner to negotiate a production contract with CORFO concurrently with completing any positive feasibility study. “Chile, which has one of the world’s most plentiful supplies of lithium, is pushing ahead with new policies to develop those reserves”. (Reuters Jan 2, 2017).
Ontario Teledyne Cobalt Project:
The Company has an option to earn 100% ownership, subject to a royalty, in the Teledyne Project located near Cobalt. Ontario. The Property adjoins the south and west boundaries of claims that hosted the Agaunico Mine. From 1905 through to 1961, the Agaunico Mine produced a total of 4,350,000 lbs. of cobalt and 980,000 oz. of silver (Cunningham-Dunlop, 1979). A significant portion of the cobalt that was produced at the Agaunico Mine located along structures that extended southward onto property currently under option to LiCo Energy Metals.
Nevada Dixie Valley Lithium Project:
The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest, subject to a 3% NSR, on a large lithium exploration project at the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Dixie Valley, Nevada. The geologic setting and presence of lithium in active geothermal fluids and surface salts in Dixie Valley match characteristics of producing lithium brine deposits at Clayton Valley, Nevada and in South America.
Nevada Black Rock Desert Lithium Project:
The Company has entered into an option agreement whereby the Company may earn an undivided 70% interest, subject to a 3% Net Smelter Return Royalty, in the Black Rock Desert Lithium Project that consists of 128 placer claims (2,560 acres/ 1,036 hectares) in southwest Black Rock Desert, Washoe County, Nevada.
The Company is planning an exploration programs for all its properties over the next several months.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Rick Wilson, President & CEO
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:
This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions such as TSX Venture Exchange approval of any Option Agreement for the acquisition of an interest in the Purickuta Project, the satisfaction of any obligations and conditions that may be contained in such Option Agreement, and the Company’s ability to exercise the Option, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements.
